very reluctant to race, eventually went, tailed off when refused 1st
held up in 4th, jumped left 3rd, ridden 6th, soon struggling
raced keenly, led, headed when mistake 2 out, no chance with winner
tracked leader, led on bit approaching 2 out, easily
in rear, not always fluent, driven and weakened 6th, tailed off when jumped right final 3
held up in rear, progressed to chase leading pair approaching 3 out, no impression next, 8 lengths 3rd when fell last
held up in rear, went 3rd briefly after 6th, 4th and weakening when blundered badly 3 out, left moderate 3rd last
Knockavilla is selected here ahead of Go Tech and With Speed. Knockavilla looked very promising when winning a Carlisle bumper in October and could be interesting facing hurdles for the first time. Go Tech was rated in the 80s when winning over ten furlongs on the Flat and showed some promise on his recent Aintree hurdling debut. The German import With Speed is a potentially-interesting runner from the in-form Evan Williams stable. Finally, Blushing Hilary showed enough on the Flat over middle-distances to be given some thought here, while Nessen Dorma was rated 75 when winning over 12 furlongs on the Flat in 2005. The selection, though, is Knockavilla.
Arabie 33-1 (10-12) Very reluctant to race, eventually went, tailed off when refused at the last in race won by Countback (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Jul, 18 ran.
Ashstanza 100-1 (11-0) Led, headed 2 out, outpaced when not fluent last, weakened flat, 4th of 14, 9l behind Leslingtaylor (11-5) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Exit to Luck (GER) (10-10) 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Morillon (9-11) at Capannelle 2m 1f hdl hvy in Dec '05.
Go Tech 14-1 (11-0) Ridden approaching 2 out, one pace when blundered badly last, 8th of 14, 14l behind Spectait (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Knockavilla (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Raced keenly, led after 2f, made rest, drifted badly left to stands' side rail over 1f out, driven and kept on well, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Oct beating Coolerbie Hill (11-0) by 2l, 12 ran.
Nessen Dorma (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place 3f out, soon behind, 15th of 16, 23l behind Cresta Gold (8-9) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jun '06 (Flat).
With Speed (GER) (8-11) Prominent, faded final furlong, 5th of 7, more than 4l behind Ocamiros (8-3) at Krefeld 1m 2f in Jun (Flat).
Blushing Hilary (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Led over 1f, remained prominent, led 6f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 7l behind Adage (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcap (6) pol in Sept (Flat).
