prominent, led approaching 7th, headed 3 out, ridden to lead again approaching 2 out, held on well flat
in touch, headway 7th, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
raced keen in mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
led, headed approaching 7th, weakened quickly, behind when pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, effort approaching 3 out, one pace from next
in touch, headway and every chance 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, headway 3 out, effort 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
There was plenty to like about the way that URBAN WARRIOR won at Plumpton last time and the Ian Williams-trained gelding is taken to follow up that comfortable success and gets the vote ahead of Barney and Think Lucky. The last mentioned is less exposed than most of his rivals after just six starts over hurdles and David Pipe's gelding has every chance on the form shown when placed at Huntingdon in April. Corkage, who was well beaten in the Champion Bumper last season finally came good over timber when landing a maiden hurdle at Bangor last month but this is tougher. Alpha Juliet ran better at Fontwell last time and has a nice racing weight but she does need to improve to trouble the judge, while Parsou has given little sign of encouragement since joining Howard Johnson from France. Barney has shown improved form of late but may now be a shade high in the weights and a better bet looks to be Urban Warrior, who is taken to follow up his Plumpton success.
Corkage (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, led 3 out, headed and hanging left approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure to regain lead towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug beating Grasscutter (10-12) by a nk, 11 ran.
Urban Warrior 11-2 (11-2) In touch, headway 8th, led before 2 out, soon in command, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf beating Will The Till (11-0) by 12l, 10 ran.
Parsou (FR) 11-10fav (11-0) Held up in touch, headway to lead 6th, mistake 3 out, blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Sunisa (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (4) gd in Mar, 4 ran.
Barney (IRE) 5-2 (10-3) Led, blundered 2nd, headed next, ridden approaching 4 out, hit next, soon chased winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Tom's Toybox (10-12) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Think Lucky 2-1fav (11-0) With leader until led 3rd, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 9, 33l behind Prince Vector (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Aug.
Lodgician (IRE) 4-9fav (10-11) Led to after 1st, tracked leader, led again 3rd, ridden approaching last, edged right and kept on flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept '06 beating Guerilla (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Rival Bidder 8-1 (10-8) Prominent, outpaced after 4 out, soon ridden, kept on from next, took 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 18l behind Classic Capers (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec '06.
College City (IRE) 18-1 (10-6) Mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Queen of Diamonds (9-7) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Aug, 10 ran.
Alpha Juliet (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Pulled hard and held up well in rear, headway approaching 8th, chased winner after 3 out, ran on from 2 out but no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Phone In (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Scutch Mill (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division on inside, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure last, no impression, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Mister Wiseman (10-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
