in touch, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off from next
always prominent, led after 3 out, soon clear, hit last, ridden out, comfortably
behind when mistake and rider lost iron 4th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 6th
tracked leader, led 5th, headed after 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th and beaten when mistake last
behind, ridden and some headway after 3 out, never nearer
mid-division, headway 6th, effort 3 out, ridden and weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, lost place 6th, soon beaten
always behind, tailed off 3 out
led to 5th, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
always behind, tailed off 3 out
in touch, effort 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden and kept on, no chance with winner
mid-division, ridden 3 out, kept on from next, no impression
mid-division, ridden 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never near leaders
Plenty of exposed runners in another handicap hurdle here and Tycoon Hall may be good enough to take this after a long break, with La Grande Villez, Scotland Yard and No Way Back other interesting contenders. Tycoon Hall has won on debut before, so we know he can go well when fresh, he acts at the track with a win last year, and he appreciates fast ground. His last run on the level was a flop but Peter Bowen would presumably not bother keeping him if he did not think he could win more races and as one previously rated 100 on the flat he clearly has a bit of ability, so we'll go with him. La Grande Villez strung out a mares' only field at Towcester in the spring and was not far away at Newton Abbot last time. His chance has to be taken seriously, as has that of Scotland Yard, for whom the visor worked at Wincanton before a Royal Ascot flop. The headgear is still on here so he can again go well. Of the others No Way Back enjoys it like a road and can go well but probably needs a drop in the weights, while City Streets is best watched until showing something like the form of his debut win and we think Tycoon Hall can defy top weight for the excellent Peter Bowen.
Tycoon Hall (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Always prominent, led after 3 out, ridden last, kept on under pressure, just held off, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Jul '06 beating Wee Dinns (10-7) by a hd, 17 ran.
La Grande Villez (FR) 7-2fav (10-9) Held up, headway after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, challenged approaching last, every chance last, ran on well flat, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind The Grey Man (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Scotland Yard (UAE) 10-11fav (10-9) Not always fluent, tracked leaders, went left 2nd, led after 5th, stayed on from 2 out, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in May beating Archduke Ferdinand (11-0) by 4l, 9 ran.
Dad's Elect (GER) 6-1 (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 8th, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 12, 16l behind Celticello (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
No Way Back (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Held up, left and lead soon after 9th, mistake 3 out, ridden and joined next, headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Vaughan (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in May.
City Streets 10-1 (11-0) Held up and behind, headway on outside approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 15, 25l behind Commemoration Day (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
That Man Fox 9-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders when fell at the 5th in race won by Orion Express (11-3) at Stratford 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul, 13 ran.
