led to 2nd, with leader, weakened 7th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened after
mid-division, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, ridden and chased leader after 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
raced wide throughout, held up, headway approaching 3 out, led on bit 2 out, easily
always behind, weakened 5th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace
in touch, ridden 7th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, challenged after 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out, one pace flat
RUDIVALE landed a gamble for connections here on his penultimate start and dropped in class here from his last start, he can win it for the Tizzard family. His victory was achieved on a sounder surface here and while the ground was much softer at Aintree, he has showed some decent form on easier surfaces in the past. Pocketwood returns to hurdling after an autumn campaign on the level. He revels with some 'juice' in the ground and is 7lb higher for his last hurdles victory. Red Perfection returns from a summer break. She sprung a surprise by winning on her final start last season and she does not seem to have been unduly punished by the assessor for that victory. I'm A Legend is a regular at this venue and appears as if he will be suited by the step up in trip here. He tends to get outpaced at the business end of his races over two miles. Rudivale is given the vote to win it.
King De Lune (FR) (10-12) 4th of 7, 8l behind Osio Des Bois (10-10) at La Roche 2m 1f chs gd-sft in May '07.
Rudivale (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up behind, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 12, 24l behind Hora (11-8) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Red Perfection 33-1 (11-0) In touch, struggling after 4th, headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, mistake last and narrowly headed, led final stride, won at N Abbot 2m 1f mrs mdn hdl (5) gs in Mar beating Caoba (10-7) by a ns, 11 ran.
Mikado Melody (IRE) 18-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden 6th, weakening on bend approaching 4 out when pulled up 3 out in race won by Pistol Desbois (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Mar, 12 ran.
Sir Harry Cool 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 10, 17l behind Darstardly Dick (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
I'm A Legend 9-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, mistake 4th, headway approaching next, no extra last, 9th of 16, 9l behind Kayf Keel (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Something Inside (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Settled 2nd, led from 4th, hit 3 out, headed and weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 16th of 18, well behind Sophocles (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Dec.
Pocketwood 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 5th, led after 4 out, challenged from 2 out, edged right flat, all out, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Apr beating Michigan d'Isop (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
So Brash (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-2) Chased leader, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 8, well behind Mount Cook (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Le Millenaire (FR) 16-1 (10-8) In touch until lost place after 4th, 13th of 16, 41l behind Najca De Thaix (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
