held up towards rear, headway after 7th, chased leaders next, every chance after 3 out, weakened before last
always behind, tailed off before 3 out
always behind pulled up before 8th
always prominent, hit 6th, led after 3 out, headed before next, stayed on same pace
held up, towards rear, ridden before 3 out, never on terms
prominent, keen hold early, fell 7th
mid-division, headway 7th, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place after 5th
mid-division, headway 7th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 3 out
mid-division, weakened approaching 5th, behind when pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakened before next
in touch, mistake 6th, weakened before next
tracked leaders, led approaching 7th, headed just after 3 out, led again before 2 out, stayed on under pressure (no time taken)
always behind, pulled up 3 out
led, headed after 6th, weakening when hampered next
held up mid-division, under pressure and weakened halfway, behind when pulled up before 3 out
Ballycracken is bound to be popular with backers on his debut for the in-form Nicky Henderson and he has to be respected having shown a decent level of form in point-to-points and bumpers in Ireland but a better bet looks to be DIVY, who gets the vote over Major Harry. Emma Lavelle's gelding belied market odds of 33/1 when a close third behind Triggerman at Wincanton last month on his hurdling debut and he has claims on ground that clearly suits. Golden Dream has given little sign of encouragement in two starts under rules and looks best watched with a bigger threat likely to come from Hideaway. John Spearing's gelding showed progressive form in bumpers and made a pleasing first start over hurdles at Ludlow recently on ground probably faster than ideal. Fabian The Fox showed ability in two starts in bumpers for Liam Corcoran and now makes his debut for Philip Hobbs on his reappearance and first start over timber. He has to be considered along with Gifted Leader, who showed a decent level of form on the Flat for Ian Williams but may prefer a faster surface. The vote then goes the way of George Baker's Divy, who showed decent form in bumpers and lost no caste in defeat on his recent hurdling debut behind Sonowyouno at Lingfield last month.
Ballycracken (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 4f out, no impression from before straight, 12th of 19, 37l behind Doc O'Donnell (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m 2f N H flat sft in Mar.
China Goes Green (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, mistakes 2nd and 7th, always behind, 11th of 16, well behind A French Horse (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Cool Defender 100-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, 12th of 15, 46l behind Dreamy Sweeney (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Divy (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Tended to jump right, chased leader until mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened and head last, 4th of 11, 15l behind Sonowyouno (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Dromore Hill (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden over 5f out, soon outpaced, 10th of 16, 35l behind Bangkok Pete (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in May.
Fabian The Fox 11-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Qroktou (11-2) at Newbury 2m NH flat (5) gs in Dec '08.
Gifted Leader (USA) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, jumped left last, 6th of 10, 19l behind Inventor (10-9) at Ascot 2m hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Golden Dream (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) With leader, led 4 out, headed next, weakened approaching last, 6th of 13, 19l behind My Friend Sandy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Great Ocean Road (IRE) (11-7) 2nd of 0, 3l behind Follow The Plan (11-7) at Maganey 3m ire ptp gd in Nov '07.
Hideaway 14-1 (11-0) Held up, headway after 8th, 5th and in touch when hampered 3 out, beaten after, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Phidippides (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Himrayn 18-1 (10-11) Held up, headway over 5f out, weakened 3f out, 6th of 12, 23l behind Another Kate (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Nov.
Major Harry (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pushed along 6th, headway from 3 out, stayed on into 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Triggerman (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Paisley Cross (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Held up, jumped left 1st, pushed along approaching 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Sitting Tennant (11-8) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Sandynow (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place before 4th, headway 5th, ridden after next, stayed on one pace from 3 out, 4th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Moghaayer (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Seize The Day (IRE) City Honours gelding out of Peacefull River.
Uncle Lionel 100-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, some headway from 3 out, never reached leaders, fell last, in a race won by Norman The Great (10-12) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '08, 16 ran.
Varekai (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened after 8th, fell 3 out, in a race won by Palypso De Creek (11-4) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Jubilee Queen (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, struggling over 4f out, tailed off, 17th of 20, well behind Candy Creek (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f N H flat lst (1) gd in Apr.
