led, blundered badly 6th, headed next, ridden approaching 2 out, soon no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten
always behind, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
mid-division until 5th, soon behind
held up, ridden and some headway 6th, stayed on from 2 out, not reached leaders
in touch, led 2 out, soon clear, impressive
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, soon one pace
tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders early, behind from 5th
mid-division, hit 5th, headway next, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
A large field goes to post for this novices hurdle but on closer inspection not many can be given a serious chance of winning but the principals look to be Chrysander,Royal Wedding and Zamboozle and the confident vote is given to Chrysander. The selection was a fair third behind Lightning Strike last time out, that horse has since franked the form and in what looks a less competitive race he is hard to oppose. Royal Wedding rates the main danger on his latest win over Misbehaviour but this looks more competitive and he will do well to defy his penalty. Zamboozle is another that could go well as he hails from a yard that is strong in this division but he is more exposed than most and is taken on with this in mind. I Have Dreamed has won at up to 11 furlongs on the flat and hails from a yard in form and if he takes to hurdling he has definite place claims but Chrysander sets a fair standard and he will be hard to beat.
Chrysander 8-1 (11-6) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Lightning Strike (11-0) at Haydock 2m lst nov hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Royal Wedding 4-1 (11-0) Led 2nd, hit 3rd and 4th and 3 out, clar 2 out, ran on, won at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft beating Misbehaviour (11-5) by 16l, 12 ran.
Zamboozle (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up in rear when unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Blue Bajan (10-12) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) gf, 14 ran.
Airman (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up, headway and reminders after 5th, led briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 11, 12l behind Park Drive (10-12) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Archie Gunn 28-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 14, 31l behind Merchent Paddy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
I Have Dreamed (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Behind, ridden 3f out, weakened from 2f out, last of 12, 20l behind Shela House (8-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct (Flat).
Jago (SWI) 8-1 (8-9) Close up, ridden and effort from over 1f out, edged right and stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Kindlelight Blue (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov (Flat).
Johnny Bissett (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Led and pulled hard early, headed after 4f, led again 7f out, shaken up and ran on well final furlong, won at Huntingdon 2m nhf (6) gs in Dec '06 beating Space Mission (11-0) by 6l, 10 ran.
Maremotto (GER) 12-1 (9-10) Soon led, strongly pressed from halfway, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra from 2f out, 10th of 11, 16l behind Via Mantua (8-4) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp 0-100 gd in Oct (Flat).
No More Tom (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Led, jumped left 1st, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 14, 30l behind Blue Bajan (10-12) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) gf.
Pertinent (FR) 10-3 (10-12) In touch, tracked winner from 4th, close up when fell 2 out in race won by Presenting Copper (10-5) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Petito (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, last of 16, 39l behind Border Artist (8-13) at Yarmouth 7f hcap (6) gd in Sept (Flat).
Top Seed (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, never dangerous, 10th of 17, well behind Striking Article (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Kosciusko 33-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, 10th of 13, 33l behind What A Friend (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in May.
