took keen hold in rear, headway on outside 5th, lost place 7th, well held after
held up in rear, not fluent, disputing modest 5th after 2 out, never dangerous
in touch, not fluent 4th, lost place next, well behind after 7th, tailed off
held up towards rear, took keen hold, ridden and behind 7th, blundered badly 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch, took keen hold, challenged on bit 2 out, led and went right last, stayed on well to come clear flat, eased close home
set modest pace, ridden and quickened approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, lost place approaching 3 out, held after
tracked leader until approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, no chance with winner
Lamb's Cross has to be respected on hurdling debut for a trainer with a 15% strike-rate here in recent seasons and his dam was a winner over timber. However preference is for BUTLERS GLEN. He was second on his first start for Evan Williams after moving away from Caroline Hutchinson. This was also a debut over hurdles after showing steady progression in bumpers. There is plenty to like about his chances and he looks a solid choice for this race. Opposition may come in the form of Philip Hobbs' entry Try Cat who races over jumps for the first time and a market check is advised for Quartz D'Anjou who is relatively unexposed. She has been lightly raced in France and Ireland where she has shown the odd glimpse of ability before an underwhelming run on English track debut at Kempton. However Butlers Glen is the confident selection.
Cilrhiwviv 66-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, prominent, ridden after 5th, weakened next, well behind when jumped right 7th, mistake last, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Winter Star (12-0) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep '08.
Coach And Four (USA) 66-1 (10-7) Pressed leader until unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Drill Sergeant (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd, 13 ran.
Jim Job Jones 50-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, in touch, jumped left, hampered and stumbled 1st, lost place after 2nd, jumped left and hampered 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when jumped left 5th, last of 10, well behind Rudanphast (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Knottage Hill (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 10th of 11, 50l behind Total Submission (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
Lamb's Cross 7-2 (10-8) Led until over 7f out, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 10, 29l behind Cheatingsideoftown (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Aug.
Sir Bere (FR) 9-1 (10-2) Jumped left 1st, tracked leader, blundered 4th, lost place 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 9, 35l behind Roodolph (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Butlers Glen (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Mid-division, headway to chase leading pair before 3 out, went 2nd next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never reached winner, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Miss Franklin (10-7) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Quartz D'Anjou (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden 5 out, soon no extra and weakened, trailing when pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Tally Em Up (10-13) at Wexford 2m 2f mrs mdn hdl in Jul '09, 16 ran.
Try Cat 7-1 (8-0) In touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 13th of 14, well behind Coda Agency (9-9) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb (flat).
Smokey George 50-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, behind 5th, 9th of 11, well behind Monetary Fund (10-4) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Lady Karinga 16-1 (10-8) In touch on outside, headway halfway, chased leaders until ridden 4f out and soon weakened, 7th of 13, 37l behind Bottman (11-1) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
