held up and keen, ridden and headway after 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on
held up, soon in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance last, kept on no chance with winner
blundered 3rd, ridden and tailed off from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, hit 5th, led next, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, blundered next, soon weakened
towards rear, hampered 2nd, struggling from 4th
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led until after 1st, left in lead 2nd, headed 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, led approaching 2 out, kept on well
pulled hard, led after 1st, soon clear, jumped badly left and unseated rider 2nd
in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
The Christian name might be different, but it looks as though the combination of Pipe and McCoy can come up trumps in the first juvenile hurdle of the season courtesy of Nike Walker, with King's College, Ever Special and Countrywide Belle just a few likely dangers. These type of events are always a guessing game, as none of them have jumped a twig in public yet, but you can be sure that Nike Walker will know what is required, given his connections, and the son of Bering, successful six times on the Flat in France, is taken to make an immediate impact on his first outing for David Pipe. The one thing that stops him being a confident choice is the question mark over his ability to handle fast ground, and we will not know that answer until he strides out on it. Pat Haslam sets a quandary by saddling three runners, but with Paddy Merrigan on Ever Special, we look to him as the main threat. Like his two stablemates, he failed to win on the Flat, but if there is any jumping ability there, Haslam will find it. Countrywide Belle has a three-month absence to overcome, but bolted up at Wolverhampton on the third of her three all-weather successes, and with Richard Johnson in the plate, is yet another live danger to our selection, Nike Walker.
El Dee (IRE) 20-1 (8-3) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression, 8th of 14, 12l behind Mister Fizzbomb (9-5) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gf (Flat).
Ever Special (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 6l behind Scuzme (8-12) at Hamilton 1m 3yo sll (5) gd in May (Flat).
Haroum (USA) 66-1 (9-0) Led, joined 3f out, soon ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 17, 32l behind Participation (9-0) at Newbury 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Oct (Flat).
Hi Dancer 14-1 (9-0) Mid-division, outpaced 3f out, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on towards 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Liberate (9-9) at Hamilton 1m 3f 3yo hcp (6) gf (Flat).
King's College (USA) 25-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway 4f out to chase leaders, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 7th of 14, 9l behind Bob's Your Uncle (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo hcp (6) gf (Flat).
Nike Walker (FR) (9-6) won at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 2f 3yo clm in May beating Kendoroc (8-13) by 3/4l, 9 ran (Flat).
Noble Edge 13-2 (8-4) Towards rear, headway on outer over 3f out, one pace final 2f, 6th of 13, 6l behind Liberate (8-4) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) gd in May (Flat).
Plough Maite 40-1 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 7th of 12, 8l behind Capitol Kid (8-9) at W'hampton 6f 2yo mdn aut (5) pol in Jul (Flat).
Safaah 20-1 (8-9) Always in rear, 9th of 10, 21l behind Carlton Scroop (8-9) at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in Apr (Flat).
Subsidise (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Towards rear, effort and not much room when switched left over 1f out, never dangerous, 8th of 9, 8l behind Art Elegant (9-9) at Carlisle 1m clm (6) gf (Flat).
That Look 20-1 (9-1) Mid-division, stayed on same pace final 2f, 8th of 16, 10l behind El Alamein (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo hcp (6) gf (Flat).
Countrywide Belle 10-11fav (8-13) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Royal Amnesty (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo sll (6) pol in Mar (Flat).
Gran Amor 66-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, carried wide bend after 2f, always in rear, last of 10, 28l behind Swan Queen (8-6) at Folkestone 1m 4f mdn fll (5) gf in Apr (Flat).
Olivair (IRE) 33-1 (8-0) Soon lost place and behind, never dangerous, 12th of 14, 24l behind Sawwaah (9-0) at Redcar 7f clm (5) frm (Flat).
Tirol Livit (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) In touch, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace, 4th of 9, 3l behind Bauer (8-13) at Ayr 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) gd in May (Flat).
