led, headed 3 out, ridden and no extra from last
in rear and in touch, not fluent 5th and soon lost place, headway 5 out to chase leaders, every chance 3 out, kept on same pace from last
tracked leaders, led 3 out, mistake 2 out and last when pressed, kept on gamely run-in, just held on
tracked leader, challenged 4 out, every chance run-in, kept on and just held
NonRunner
Last year's Kingwell Hurdle winner BLUE HERON was having his first start for eighteen months when making his debut over fences at Market Rasen last month and couldn't cope with the race-fit Viens Chercher. Dan Skelton's charge jumped well enough until tiring and will be a different proposition here. Ma du Fou completed a hat-trick over hurdles when landing a Listed contest at Huntingdon in February and though unable to make the transition to Grade class at Aintree he should do well now tackling the bigger obstacles. Vendor is a smart and consistent hurdler but hasn't got to grips with fences in two starts to date but The Dutchman should win races this winter. Sandy Thomson's charge, runner-up in a Grade 2 novices' hurdle at Kelso, originally came from the point-to-point field so should have no problems with the bigger obstacles.
Blue Heron (IRE) 1-2fav (11-2) Tracked leader, effort approaching 3 out, not fluent next, never able to challenge, 2nd of 3, 8l behind Viens Chercher (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (3) gd in Oct.
Ma du Fou (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, weakened before last, 6th of 17, 9 3/4l behind Mckinley (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
The Dutchman (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 5th, headed before 7th, soon ridden, lost place before 3 out, well behind when pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Vendor (FR) 50-1 (11-2) In rear, outpaced from 6 out, last of 6, 32 3/4l behind Charbel (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Frankie Ballou (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Soon mid-division, 14th from 4 out, no impression from next, pulled up straight, at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Sep.
