pressed leaders, blundered badly 3rd, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, raced keenly, chased winner approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, no impression when hung left before 2 out
held up, headway 6th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, tailed off
held up, headway 5th, led next, drew clear approaching 2 out
led until after 1st, not fluent, lost place next, headway 7th, went modest 3rd 3 out, no chance with front 2 when blundered 2 out
prominent 4th, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway to lead 2nd, mistake, headed 6th, mistake, weakened next, tailed off
ran in snatches, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off
led after 1st, blundered, headed next, lost place when not fluent 3rd, last 4th, behind after, tailed off
Pips Assertive Way made virtually all the running when landing a selling handicap at Worcester off a mark of 87 last month and she has to be considered but this looks tougher even receiving weight all round and preference is for KILROGAN, who gets the vote with Lord Baskerville rated the best of the rest. The selection has struggled against the handicapper in recent starts over fences so it is no surprise to see that Andy Haynes has returned him to hurdles and now, being dropped into a claimer for the first time, he has an obvious chance of resuming winning ways. Pepporoni Pete is not as good as he once was but is still capable and he could be of interest under Tony McCoy. Nez Rouge is lightly raced and represents Nigel Twiston-Davies so cannot be discounted but he has clearly had his problems so may be best watched, while Major Title is capable and comes form the yard of James Lambe that does well with their runners in the UK but he has been pulled up in each of his last two starts and is hard to recommend. Lord Baskerville has been running well of late including in similar grade to this and the gelding should again be involved at the business end of the race but Kilrogan has solid claims dropped into this grade and he is preferred.
Lord Baskerville 14-1 (11-7) Prominent, joined leaders 3 out, outpaced next, left 3rd last, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Dirar (11-4) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, raced keenly, left close 2nd 5th, not fluent next, outpaced by leading pair over 2f out, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Rajeh (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Major Title (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Crerum (10-4) at Down Royal 2m cond hcp hdl 4yo+ sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Nez Rouge (FR) 17-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, last of 9, 47l behind Downing Street (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Kilrogan (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Led, driven along after 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra, 4th of 7, 12l behind Mission Control (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Persistent (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Pulled hard, soon in touch, not fluent 4th, weakening when hanging left before 2 out, 5th of 13, 15l behind Ruby Valentine (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Jul.
Three Ships 5-2fav (10-12) 4th of 14, 24l behind First Boy (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd sll hdl (5) gd in Jun '08.
Monaadi (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, 8th of 15, 43l behind Danetime Panther (11-5) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Pips Assertive Way 6-1 (11-9) Made virtually all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jul beating Queen Excalibur (10-8) by 8l, 12 ran.
Wujood 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 16, 50l behind Stumped (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd in Jun.
