held up, hit 4th, ridden after 6th, little impression
tracked leaders, awkward 2nd, weakened 6th
soon prominent, led approaching 6th, pushed out
jumped slowly 1st, soon led, mistake 4th, headed approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out
led until after 1st, tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, 3rd and held when went left, mistake 2 out, went left last
held up, headway approaching 6th, ridden when hit 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 6th, hit 3 out, soon weakened
soon tracking leaders, every chance after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, held from next
soon well behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden, headway after 3 out, weakened next
QUELL THE STORM is the least exposed here and this may not take a great deal of winning, and Paul Nicholls' gelding gets the vote ahead of Jaunty and Vacario. So far he's had just the one run in a bumper when slightly disappointing; the slight step up in trip looks a positive, and he may appreciate the faster ground than encountering on debut at Bangor. Part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, he can make his sporting week even better than it already is. Jaunty was a decent third last month when making his first appearance under rules for two years after a spell between the flags, when he showed some decent form without winning. He's the higher rated over hurdles of the two to have a mark, the other being Starlight Air. Vacario is having just his second attempt at hurdling; he's entitled to come on for his first effort when finishing last, when his jumping wasn't the most fluent. That was a disappointing effort considering his runs in bumpers. Any support for Scalleys Run should be noted, having his first race here after coming to Evan Williams' yard from Ireland following a few bumper runs. It's a tricky little contest to work out, but we'll side with Quell The Storm.
Jaunty 50-1 (10-7) In touch, jumped slowly and lost places 1st, ridden and close up 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 5l behind China Gold (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Murphy's Mate 66-1 (10-8) Held up last, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, 7th of 8, well behind Sir Harry Cool (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Quell The Storm (FR) 7-2fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, one pace, 5th of 14, 10l behind Moorlands Teri (10-2) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (5) sft in Dec.
Scalleys Run 9-1 (11-7) Towards rear, kept on same pace from over 4f out, 7th of 17, 38l behind Oscar Time (11-9) at Thurles 2m 2f 5yo nhf sft in Jan '08.
Vacario (GER) 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, slow 1st, soon in touch, lost place halfway, last of 12, well behind Princeful (11-5) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Led, ridden and headed well over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 4th of 9, 12l behind Moscow Chieftain (10-11) at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gd in Mar.
Golden Rule (FR) 6-1 (10-7) (tt) bhnd til pu 11, in a race won by Timeshift (11-7) at Larkhill 2m 4f ptp in Jan, 10 ran.
Cailin Na Ri (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Chased leaders early, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened over 4f out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Bobs Display (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 2f N H flat hvy in Dec.
Miss Maratana (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Propped and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Art Trend (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) fm in Mar, 11 ran.
Starlight Air 50-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway when mistake 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Daurica (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
