held up mid-division, weakened from 5th, pulled up after 3 out
in rear, hit 5th, weakened 3 out
in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, hit last, soon headed, kept on
tracked leaders, pushed along 5th, no extra from last
held up towards rear, pushed along 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, some headway approaching 2 out, no impression from last
prominent, pushed along after 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, not fluent last, soon led, kept on well
led, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden after 2 out, hit last, never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no headway
held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, soon struggling
OBARA D'AVRIL is well-handicapped and is taken to see off Hoar Frost and Topenhall in a competitive opener. Steve West's mare is a course and distance winner and although recent flat performances have not been great she has been up and down in trip like a yoyo. Her sole win came at this track off a mark of 81 and despite being 9lbs higher here she should run well. Reel Missile is well-treated but not in great form, General Smith was in better nick when last seen in May, whilst Ardesia is another who comes here off a mini break but he might be high enough in the weights. The drop in trip will suit Choctaw Nation but his hurdling needs to be more fluent, Hoar Frost holds a few of these on her run behind Holoko Heights at Uttoxeter, whilst Topenhall's second to Deep Reflection has been let down by the winner since. Not a race that will live long in the memory but preference is for Obara D'Avril.
Baltrap (FR) (10-10) 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Thury (10-8) at Rochefort-sur-loire(FR) 2m hdl gd in Aug '08.
Baguenaud (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Chased clear leaders, mistake 5th, not fluent next, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind Rio Gael (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Topenhall (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Prominent, took keen hold, led approaching 7th, clear before 3 out, 6 lenghts up 2 out, not fluent last, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Deep Reflection (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
Hoar Frost 15-8fav (10-10) Led until 4th, hit next, led 6th until ridden approaching 3 out, edged right before next, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 6l behind Holoko Heights (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in Jul.
Toss The Caber (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not always fluent, headway after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 16l behind Hard And Fast (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f sell (5) gf in Aug '09.
Massams Lane 14-1 (10-11) Prominent, hit 3rd, not fluent next, mistake 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off, 6th of 11, 22l behind Wheelavit (11-8) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Choctaw Nation 10-3fav (10-7) Held up in rear, headway and blundered 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out until jumped slowly, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 30l behind Tout Regulier (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gf in Jul.
Phoenix Eye 40-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, pushed along 5th and weakened, 9th of 12, 33l behind Ajman (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Ardesia (IRE) 5-6fav (11-4) Led 1st, soon headed, prominent, pushed along after 4th, no impression after 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 8, 9l behind Beat The Shower (11-12) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jun.
Soggy Dollar 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway after next, mistake and no impression from 3 out, 5th of 9, 10l behind Holoko Heights (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in Jul.
General Smith 11-4 (10-3) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway when not clear run briefly bend after 6th, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 14l behind Quipe Me Posted (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Reel Missile 9-4 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Holoko Heights (11-8) at Southwell 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Lady Wright (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, weakened from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Long Wait (10-8) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jul, 16 ran.
Broadway Allstar (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked clear winner, never able to land a challenge, 2nd of 10, 18l behind Calon Crwbin (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Vogarth 40-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, ridden next, no impression, 5th of 8, 11l behind Avanos (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jul.
Obara d'Avril (FR) 8-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 6, 20l behind Danny Zuko (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jun.
