held up towards rear and jumped left throughout, soon behind, tailed off from 6th
held up mid-division, headway after 6th, led and hit 2 out, pushed clear last easily
held up towards rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led bend approaching 2 out, headed 2 out, ran on same pace
very slowly away and behind, some headway 6th, weakening when fell last
prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed bend approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, headway and every chance 2 out, chased winner, mistake last, stayed on
in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on one pace
held up towards rear, headway and ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader, ridden 3 out, weakened after
An interesting little novices' hurdle which should chiefly involve Desert Quest, Boberelle, Kentucky King and Zouave, and we take Desert Quest to make it third time lucky. The former Andrew Balding inmate, now in the care of Paul Nicholls, was just edged out of it up the Cheltenham hill on Tuesday. This extra couple of furlongs should bring his stamina even more into play, and with no worries over the ground, he can pick up some winning prize money this time. Boberelle is interesting and inexperienced, with just three runs under her belt, including when tipping up early on last time. Colin Tinkler thinks a fair bit of her, and we expect to see a decent effort this time, provided she jumps the obstacles. Di Hamer's Kentucky King keeps finding one or two too good, and the same could happen here. He remains on the same mark as when chasing home Phar From Phavourite at Ludlow last time. He handles the ground and has run well enough over the trip in defeat to suggest he can be involved, but he's vulnerable to anything with a bit of speed. Of the remainder, Zouave has shown a few glimmers of hope, though he has to prove he truly stays this trip, among other things, so he is best watched and we'll stick with Desert Quest to give Paul Nicholls another winner.
Desert Quest (IRE) 8-11fav (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, chased leader next, hung left and blundered last, recovered to lead flat, headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Motorway (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (D) gd.
It's My Party 66-1 (10-9) Prominent, jumped slowly 2nd, weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, 27l behind Dusky Lord (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (F) gd.
Kentucky King (USA) 11-2 (10-7) Held up in rear, ridden, headway after 6th, kept on flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Phar Out Phavorite (11-10) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf.
Prideoftheyankees (IRE) Won at Dromahane 2m 4f mdn stk hvy in May beating Bandits Benefit by 1l, 18 ran.
Zouave (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, led approaching 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace from last, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Nicolas Mon Ami (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (E) gd.
Boberelle (IRE) 13-8fav (10-10) Held up towards rear when fell at the 2nd in race won by United Spirit (11-3) at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gf, 12 ran.
West End Pearl 22-1 (10-5) Prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 11, 22l behind Redspin (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gf.
Xila Fontenailles (FR) 16-1 (10-4) Always behind, slightly hampered 9th, tailed off when blundered last, virtually pulled up, 5th of 8, well behind Thedublinpublican (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Sept.
