chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
soon driven along in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 10th, one pace from 3 out, jumped right 2 out
chased leaders, stumbled on bend approaching 5th, driven along from next, lost place after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
mid-division, driven along from 8th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, hit 2nd, joined leader from 4 out until ridden approaching 2 out, soon no impression
took keen hold, prominent, pushed along after 9th, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, blundered badly 5th, headway 9th, led after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon well clear
led to 7th, prominent until weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
with leader, led 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, no chance with winner approaching 2 out
mistake 8th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 8th, headway 10th, one pace and no impression from 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
A big field for this marathon hurdling event and leading protagonists look to be Darn Good, High Gear, Griffiti Tongue and the Peter Bowen trained pair Burren Moonshine and Dunbrody Millar and we take Darn Good to land it. The Alan King-trained selection relished the step up to this extreme trip when landing a maiden contest at Hereford last time and now that he has found his niche he looks capable of following up on ground that will suit, and from the same mark. High Gear returns to this 3m 2f to which he has proved well suited in the past and is once more of interest with conditions to suit, although he now looks fully exposed. Graffiti Tongue has a couple of long distance wins to his name on fast ground and runs from the same mark as when scoring on heavy at Folkestone last time out, so is very much respected, while Dunbrody Millar is interesting back over hurdles and Burren Moonshine looks weighted up to the hilt, so we take Darn Good to score.
Graffiti Tongue (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (12-13) Held up, headway 8th, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, drew clear, won at Folkestone 2m 6f sll hdl (5) hvy in Jan beating Avanti Tiger (11-6) by 9l, 11 ran.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leader, jumped left 13th (Valentine's), ridden and lost 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 29, 9l behind Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Darn Good 4-6fav (11-2) Prominent, led 3 out, stayed on well, won at Hereford 3m 2f mdn hdl (4) gf in May beating Khadija (9-13) by 7l, 10 ran.
High Gear (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Held up mid-division, mistake 4th, headway approaching 3 out, hard ridden 2 out, chased winner, held last, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Complete Outsider (11-11) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Burren Moonshine (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) In touch, chased leader 9th, led 3 out, ridden and headed after next, soon one pace, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Totally Scottish (11-3) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Wise Tale 10-3fav (10-2) Chased leader, led 3rd until 4th, pushed along and lost place from 6th, left poor 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 12, 24l behind Jorobaden (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Oct.
Solway Minstrel 8-1 (10-8) Chased leader, led 3 out, ridden clear approaching last, won at Cartmel 3m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in May beating Accepting (10-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Sylphide 7-2 (10-7) Hdwy 6; went 2nd 14; no imp 3 out, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Free (11-0) at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd in May.
