pulled hard, led and clear to 5th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 2 lengths 3rd when blundered and unseated rider last
tracked clear leader, headway 5th, hit 3 out, soon led, ridden last, headed and no extra flat
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, headway 3 out, ridden next, no impression when left 3rd and hampered last
held up, headway 3 out, went 2nd before next, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well
keen early, held up behind, lost touch 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
Tamimi's History was firmly put in his place by First Buddy at Bangor but he'd be unlucky to bump into one as good in this contest. The three penalised runners, Border Fox, Maraafeq and Jamestown Boy rate the dangers. The selection showed decent form on the level for Kevin Prendergast and has made a satisfactory start to his new career. He ran third in the Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial at Musselburgh in February and stepped up on that form at Bangor despite being beaten 16 lengths into second. He should be able to win a race of this nature on that evidence. Border Fox is useful on his day as he showed when beating a subsequent winner over course and distance but he has to put a poor run, albeit in a decent event, behind him. Maraafeq falls into a similar category but he may simply have failed to handle the ground at Newbury last time and may well have more to offer but he didn't have a great deal to beat here in February and did get very warm that day. Jamestown Boy stepped up on his bumper form when making a winning debut over obstacles. He's entitled to improve for that experience and should be a factor but he faces no easy task at the weights and we think that Tamimi's History can make it third time lucky.
Border Fox 11-2 (11-8) Led and keen early, hit 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened quickly and pulled up 2 out in race won by Halla San (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan, 15 ran.
Jamestown Bay (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden 2 out, led approaching last, edged left under pressure flat, kept on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd beating Cripsey Brook (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Able Dara 100-1 (11-1) Behind, some headway after 3 out, never near leaders, 8th of 13, 30l behind Jamestown Bay (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd.
Maraafeq (USA) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, struggling 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Arctic Wings (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Springfield Dante 40-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Master Builder (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Acapulco Bay 66-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, never on terms, 6th of 13, 29l behind La Vecchia Scuola (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Prioryjo 100-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, 6th of 13, 8l behind Noble Alan (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Tamimi's History 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 14, 16l behind First Buddy (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) gd.
Overbay 100-1 (9-12) Slowly away, raced keenly, towards rear, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Cool Operator (11-2) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gf.
