tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 2nd, kept on same pace from 2 out
tracked leader, led over 3f out at top of straight, soon headed, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway top of straight over 3f out, led 3f out, not fluent last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, one pace from last
held up mid-division, blundered 4th, soon reminders, weakened from 3 out
held up mid-division, headway top of straight over 3f out, went 2nd after last, no impression
led, headed top of straight over 3f out, soon weakened
towards rear, in rear from 3rd, weakened next, tailed off 3 out
Montoya's Son looks the pick of Howard Johnson's two runners ahead of Rupin but the son of Flemensfirth showed little aptitude for hurdling on his debut over timber and looks best left out of calculations in a race taken to go to ALLOW ME, who is preferred to Mac Aeda. Malcolm Jefferson's gelding has shown a decent level of form in bumpers, winning first time out at Market Rasen in May before making an encouraging return last month when finding just Safran De Cotte too good at the same venue. Now making his first start over hurdles, the son of Kayf Tara has to be respected but this is the most testing ground that he has raced on and he is not certain to handle it. Keith Reveley's Timarello was well held on his only start in a bumper, while Ferdy Murphy's French import Lord Villez looked nothing out of the ordinary in his native country and was beaten some way before home on his debut for new connections. The vote then goes the way of James Ewart's Allow Me, who has shown progressive form in four starts in bumpers, including on a soft surface, and he looks worth siding with first time up over hurdles.
Allow Me 12-1 (10-13) Led, driven over 2f out, soon ridden, headed entering final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Tale Of Tanganyika (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) gs in Feb.
Benno's Boy (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Pressed leader until not fluent 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 16, 25l behind Tail Of The Bank (10-13) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Lord Villez (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from next, never troubled leaders, 5th of 10, 16l behind Bygones Of Brid (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Mac Aeda 4-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, led after 3f, headed over 3f out,led again over 1f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Safran De Cotte (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
Monsoon Music (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Always behind, 15th of 16, well behind Bishops Heir (10-7) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Jan '09.
Montoya's Son (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 2nd, tracked leader, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 14, well behind Hollins (11-0) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rupin (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Led until over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 15l behind Anquetta (11-7) at Southwell 2m mdn nat hunt flt (4-6yo) (4) std in Jan.
Tyrrhenian 33-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden and lost place approaching 4 out, 9th of 16, well behind Classic Cut (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar '09.
Timarello (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, some headway over 3f out, no impression, 11th of 14, 35l behind Portway Girl (9-13) at Kelso 2m mrs N H flat (5) sft in Feb.
