chased leaders until lost place approaching 5th, rallied from 2 out, kept on as rivals weakened flat
tracked leader, led 2nd, clear after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly
held up, good headway approaching 3 out where every chance, weakened from next
chased leaders, lost place approaching 4 out, soon tailed off
held up, smooth headway on outside but hanging right from 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon driven and weakened before last
led to 2nd, remained prominent, weakened after 3 out, disputing poor 5th when fell last
raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led before and hit 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
A poor selling hurdle but ROISIN'S PRINCE looks to hold solid claims and is the selection ahead of Dobravany and the interesting Applaude. The gelding won well at Towcester last time under similar conditions to today's and that effort was all the more encouraging given that it came on the back of an absence. Prior to that the seven-year-old had been struggling but he did win this race last year under similar conditions and as such is the most solid proposition here. Dobravany comes out best on the figures in receipt of weight from our selection and is worthy of respect arriving here on the back of two seconds in selling company. Whilst clearly only modest and still without a win over hurdles Leighton Aspell's mount is still only five and will find a selling hurdle at some point. Applaude is extremely interesting on his debut over timber. A 73-rated flat performer at best, the gelding showed himself to be in good heart when winning a handicap over 1m2f in September. That victory suggested the horse should comfortably stay the minimum trip over hurdles and with Graham Lee an eye-catching booking it may well pay to watch the market in regard to this newcomer. Hoar Frost merits respect as the second best-in on official figures and this four-year-old has only had the four chances over hurdles, the last of which resulting in a fair third behind a higher rated horse over course and distance. Magnitude may be able to run well under Tom Messenger having unseated the jockey last time. This gelding had looked like making a smart performer on the level but lost his way this year and connections now turn to obstacles in the hope that they might restore some of the horses love for the game. Having had just two chances over hurdles that one is a potential improver but in a trappy affair we side with the winning for of Roisin's Prince.
Roisin's Prince (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, driven out, won at Towcester 2m sell hdl (5) gs beating Liberty Seeker (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Applaude 20-1 (8-6) Prominent, raced keenly, hanging badly right over 2f out, came to stands rail over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 6l behind Appalachian Trail (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol (flat).
Best Memory 100-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, hit 3rd, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 7th of 9, 20l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Dobravany (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up and keen, chased leaders approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Leighton Buzzard 50-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 15, 30l behind Noble Minstrel (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Jun '08.
Magnitude 20-1 (11-0) With leader until after 6th, 4th and beaten when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Moghaayer (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd, 14 ran.
Richard The Third 18-1 (11-5) Led to 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Benmadigan (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun, 14 ran.
Hoar Frost 16-1 (10-8) Led, headed approaching 3rd, remained prominent, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
