behind, lost touch 9th, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 10th, soon weakened
mistake 1st, behind, reminders 5th, lost touch when pulled up after 7th
mid-division, lost place 8th, tailed off when fell last
in touch, effort approaching 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, no impression
mistakes, mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, weakened after next
mistake 1st, behind when fell 8th
in touch, headway to lead after 9th, headed when went wrong side and hit marker between last 2, ridden and no impression flat
led, hit 3rd, headed 8th, chased leaders until mistake, lost place 10th, outpaced from 3 out
tracked leader, led 8th until after next, ridden and kept on from 2 out, no impression
held up, always behind
Sasso is bound to be popular here coming from his exalted connections, but we will oppose him here with Tell Henry, while Karelian and Silverhay can also go well. Tell Henry was a decent enough hurdler last year, finishing the campaign with a pillar-to-post success here on fast ground. He gets those conditions again and comes from a yard that can get them ready to win first time, and will certainly have their charge well prepared, so he looks a better value option than the likely favourite, who was not a huge amount better over hurdles. That rival is Sasso, the mount of McCoy here. However, before getting carred away, note that the gelding's only two wins have come with cut in the ground, and he may actually be better over shorter, so we oppose. Karelian would have a clear chance if he could run up to his best hurdles mark here, but he blundered away his chance on his chasing debut and has a bit to prove here and of the others Silverhay can't be discounted after a promising Fontwell chase debut and can be rewarded for the trip up from Northamptonshire with some prize money. However, the selection here is Tell Henry.
Astyanax (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 11, 29l behind Absolut Power (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Beaufoy (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, hit 2nd, soon lost place, behind when pulled up at the 6th in race won by The Wicketkeeper (11-4) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sept, 13 ran.
Happy Boy (IRE) 12-1 (9-13) Chased leaders until driven and lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Brandy Wine (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Nov '05, 12 ran.
Just Talking (IRE) Windsor Castle gelding out of Fam-e Fam-e.
Karelian 15-2 (10-12) Mid-division, blundered 4th, ridden and no impression approaching 4 out, 7th of 11, 26l behind Dev (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m nov chs (4) gd in Sept.
Megaton 15-2 (10-11) Mid-division, weakened 6th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Sonnyanjoe (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Sept, 18 ran.
Pass The Class (IRE) 10-3 (10-3) Mistakes, raced keenly and soon tracked leader, led 4 out, blundered next, ridden when fell in race won by Urban (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Aug, 7 ran.
Sasso 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway under pressure to rear of main group well before 2 out, no impression when hit last 2, 7th of 17, 21l behind Oslot (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Apr.
Silverhay 8-1 (10-13) Held up last, headway 9th, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Templer (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gf in Sept.
Sir Bathwick (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 21l behind Knighton Lad (11-9) at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Supply And Fix (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Led, headed 6th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 10, 20l behind Country Escape (10-10) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Sept.
Tell Henry (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Made all, drew clear from 2 out, driven out, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Apr beating Top Dressing (11-7) by 7l, 12 ran.
So Cloudy 12-1 (9-12) Held up behind, headway and in touch 5th, outpaced when hit 2 out, soon weakened, last of 10, 41l behind Supply And Fix (10-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Aug.
