with leader, pushed aloong and weakened before 3 out, hampered before next
led, joined 3 out, soon ridden, pressed when blundered last, soon headed, kept on, held by winner
held up mid-division on outer, headway 4th to chase leaders, challenged and upsides 3 out, soon ridden, no extra after last
tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened from last
held up mid-division on inner, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace from last
held up towards rear and pulled hard, soon in rear and struggling, tailed off
prominent, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, hampered before 2 out
towards rear, soon pushed along, weakened from 5 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and hung left before 2 out, soon weakened, blundered last
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway on inner 4 out, ridden before 2 out, led after last, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened before 3 out
Sports Model's pedigree suggests he should be placed to good effect in time but this looks a tricky start. Mister Wall Street had good form last season and looked to be on the way back with a fifth at Doncaster, while Dica caused an upset over C&D on his racecourse debut. Aikman would have gone close had he not fallen when favourite on his hurdling debut here earlier in the month, but Waldvogel may need his first outing since last May and Eltheeb was probably flattered by his proximity to Local Hero at Doncaster. RED MERLIN, a smart handicapper on the Flat up to 1m4f, chased home Minella Class on his hurdling debut at Newbury and, though well beaten behind the same horse in a Grade 1 at Sandown subsequently, faces nothing of that calibre here and can get off the mark over timber.
Dica (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on well from last ridden out, won at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Dhaular Dhar (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Aikman (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Led, mistake and narrowly headed 3 out, stayed challenging and every chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by King Fingal (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (4) gs, 14 ran.
Bogside (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 13, 10l behind Little Hercules (11-4) at Catterick 2m NH flat (6) gd in Dec.
Bullring (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 8th of 14, 31l behind Vertige Dore (11-1) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Aug.
Fortuni (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 14, 27l behind King Fingal (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (4) gs.
Mister Wall Street (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 22l behind Drive Time (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Pagan Lightning (USA) 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, reminders after 5th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up after next, tailed off, in a race won by Maxdelas (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Red Merlin (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in 4th, jumped slowly 1st, dropped to last 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, weakened well before 2 out, tailed off, last of 5, 47l behind Minella Class (11-7) at Sandown 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy.
Sports Model (IRE) Presenting gelding out of Belmarita.
The Tiddly Tadpole 33-1 (10-9) Led for about 3f, chased leader, weakened before 5f out, 11th of 15, well behind Dark Glacier (11-0) at Kelso 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
Waldvogel (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, chased leaders in 3rd when hit 3 out, stumbled slightly 2 out, every chance last, one pace, 4th of 8, 5l behind Balnagore (10-12) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Battle Honour 15-2 (9-3) Chased leader, bumped over 2f out and driven, outpaced to 3rd over 1f out, no impression on leading duo, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Official Style (9-3) at Windsor 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gs in Aug (flat).
Eltheeb 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, soon tracked leaders, led before 4 out, ridden and headed before last, lost 2nd when no extra last 50 yards, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Local Hero (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd.
