in touch, headway and challenged, kept on same pace
held up in touch, ridden 3 out,tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader, led after 2nd and 3rd, in touch until kept on to go 3rd from last
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd and lost place, unseated rider 4
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway approaching 2 out, 3rd and held when blundered last, not recovered
held up behind, blundered 1st, headway after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led to after 2nd, led after 3rd, quick and clear on bit approaching 2 out, unchallenged
Bold Fire gets the confident vote here with Busy Henry and Ten Pressed Men rating the main dangers. The selection wasn't beaten far in a grade 3 hurdle last time out behind Ombre D'estruval, this looks easier and under conditions that suit he is impossible to oppose. Busy Henry rates the main danger on his latest second behind Au Courant. That form has since been franked and he will not be far away but he will need to improve again to beat the selection.Ten Pressed Men was a fair third behind Karanja when last seen and is worth noting in the market with his yard in form but he may just need the run after a 493 day absence. Of the remainder Storm of Applause is another from a top yard that could go well but he will be handicapped after this run and that is where his future may lie and with this in mind for the winner we return to Bold Fire.
Busy Henry 7-1 (10-11) Led until 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Au Courant (10-13) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gd in Nov.
Crystal Hollow 66-1 (11-5) Behind from 6f out, 11th of 14, well behind Leading Authority (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (6) gs.
Judy's Lad 66-1 (11-4) Led until headed over 4f out, weakened quickly, 9th of 11, 43l behind Deep Reflection (11-4) at Lingfield 2m nhf (H) pol in Dec.
Storm of Applause (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 21l behind Neveesou (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
Ten Pressed Men (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Karanja (11-3) at Windsor 2m nhf (H) sft in Dec '04.
The Piker (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Pulled hard in touch, effort over 3f out, soon weakened, 14th of 16, 37l behind Apollo Lady (10-4) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Gay Millenium 10-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders to halfway, weakened quickly, last of 12, well behind Oscar Foxbow (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gd in Nov '04.
Loose Morals (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until 7th, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Pedros Brief (11-0) at Windsor 2m 4f nh mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Lordsbridge (USA) Lord Avie gelding, half-brother to 6f winner Parkland.
Bold Fire (9-13) 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Ombre D'estruval (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl Grd 3 sft in Nov.
