led and soon clear, reduced lead after 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, headed 2 out, no chance with winner when mistake and lost 2nd last
held up, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next
took keen hold, raced wide, held up, closed to track leader after 3rd, ridden before 2 out, soon no chance with winner, went moderate 2nd last
held up, keen in rear, smooth headway on inside 5th, challenging for 2nd from 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear
chased clear leader to after 3rd, handy until ridden and lost touch after 3 out, tailed off when hit next
raced in 4th and soon well off the pace, ridden 5th, lost touch next and soon pulled up
URBAN TIGER is the selection with Maria Antonia and Garafena also in our thoughts. The former Carl Llewellyn inmate is better known as a handicap chaser but the fact that he hasn't won over hurdles entitles him to have a crack at a novice prize over the smaller obstacles. Richard Johnson replaces a conditional in the saddle and as the horse has run creditably enough in testing ground in the past; we are prepared to put him up as a selection. Maria Antonia is unproven under such testing conditions though will be popular with Tony McCoy booked. She has often been backed at short prices though and of more concern is the fact that she faded so tamely at Bangor last time out. Garafena was a modest middle distance horse on the Flat for both Pat Eddery and Brendan Powell. She turned over a new leaf when joining Richard Lee and obliged by three-and-a-half lengths on debut for the Byton based handler - there was money at bigger odds suggesting that it was not altogether a surprise. Jafaru should be fit from the Flat but has been a bitter disappointment when tried over hurdles in the past. Sweet World seems to get on well with rider Isabel Tompsett but he has spurned easier opportunities than this in the past. Boogie Dancer is honest enough though invariably consents to find one too good. Urban Tiger gets the vote.
Urban Tiger (GER) 7-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, ridden 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 6th of 7, 37l behind Intersky Music (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gf in Jul.
Boogie Dancer 12-1 (10-8) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway after 3 out, stayed on from next, chased winner soon after last, kept on well flat, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Olivino (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Maria Antonia (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, raced keenly, hit 7th, headway next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 12l behind Aberdeen Park (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Jul.
Sweet World 8-1 (10-7) Held up, headway after 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Maria Antonia (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Jafaru 3-1 (11-3) Held up, some headway 5th, weakened after next, 5th of 10, 33l behind Lord Lieutenant (9-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Mar '08.
Garafena 10-1 (10-7) In touch, went 2nd 5th until 3 out, led after 2 out, clear approaching last, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun beating Civil Servant (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
