held up, headway approaching 5th, cruising 2 out, led last, shaken up flat, well in control towards finish
towards rear, lost touch after 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch until not fluent 3rd, soon behind, tailed off
always handy, challenged from 6th, hit 2 out, no extra final 100 yards
keen early, in rear, lost touch after 3rd, tailed off
mid-division, in touch, not fluent 5th, weakened under pressure before 2 out
led, not fluent 2nd, headed after 5th, weakened after next, tailed off
in rear, not fluent 1st, lost touch after 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
keen early, tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, beaten last
pressed leader until after 4th, led after next, ridden approaching 2 out, headed when not fluent last, weakened flat
Nonrunner
ZAFAR can defy a couple of winners penalties and he can take this at the expense of Par Avion and Anfield Road. Tim Vaughan had plenty of entries for this race but the Welsh handler sticks with the recent Newton Abbot winner. The Aga Khan castoff is not altogether straightforward as his headgear and tonguetie might illustrate but he was on best behaviour last time out and won far more easily than the formbook suggests. Par Avion won a competitive Doncaster bumper earlier in the season. Her jumping hasn't altogether convinced but there was plenty of money around for her at Cartmel last time out. Anfield Road was disappointing at Uttoxeter last time but had shaped with a degree of promise at Cheltenham. Sadler's Star had a recent spin on the flat having been a beaten favourite on his last two hurdling starts. Stormin Heart appears modest whilst Shaylee landed a recent handicap on the flat at Beverley and is on hurdling debut this evening. Zafar could be a class above these rivals and is accordingly recommended.
Zafar (IRE) 1-2fav (11-5) Raced wide, tracked leaders, smooth headway from 3 out, led approaching 2 out, went left 2 out, clear when went left last, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Holden Caulfield (10-11) by 5l, 9 ran.
Khepri's Kingdom Jendali gelding out of Lightning Belle.
Racing Stripes (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Reared start, in touch halfway, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Klarity (8-5) at Nottingham 6f 3yo & 4yo sll (6) gf in Jul '08 (flat).
Sadler's Star (GER) 11-8fav (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, well behind Cootehill (10-12) at Southwell 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Vogarth 66-1 (10-9) Hit 2nd, prominent early, behind after 5th, 12th of 15, well behind Danetime Panther (11-5) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Anfield Road 5-1 (10-11) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 6th, led 8th, soon headed, not fluent 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Secret Dancer (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Stormin Heart (USA) 100-1 (10-3) Not always fluent, led, clear for short while, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 22l behind Zafar (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Barlin Bay 200-1 (10-2) Always behind, 9th of 13, 49l behind Dead Or Alive (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Crosby Jemma 22-1 (10-9) Always behind, tailed off 3 out, 6th of 12, 50l behind Edgefour (10-12) at Southwell 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Shaylee 8-1 (9-6) Chased leader until 8f out, remained close up, ridden to lead 2f out, driven out, won at Beverley 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jul beating Art Value (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran (flat).
Par Avion 6-1 (10-0) Led into start, held up in last, headway when wandered approaching 3 out, never reached leaders, went modest 4th after last, 4th of 9, 20l behind Josephine Malines (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Winged Farasi 33-1 (11-2) Soon chasing leader, lost 2nd after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Zafar (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Scrum V 7-2fav (11-0) Led, headed over 12f out, ridden and weakened over 5f out, 7th of 13, 31l behind King Red (10-12) at Chepstow 2m mdn NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
