held up, tracked leaders 5th, ridden 7th, soon weakened
held up in touch, hit 3rd, soon pushed along and reminders, hampered and lost place after 5th, weakened 8th
held up in touch, tracked leaders 5th, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed towards finish, no extra
tracked leaders, joined leaders 6th, one pace 3 out
led, headed 8th, pushed along and outpaced next, hard ridden approaching last, ran on to lead towards finish
tracked leader, weakened after 4 out
held up and keen, hit 4th, tracked leaders next, led 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, hung right and weakened from last
Carapuce gets the confident vote in this handicap hurdle with Inching Closer and Paperprophet the pair we fear the most. The selection looked like one to follow next time out when shaping encouragingly on his return from a 221 day break at Leicester. He travelled well for a long way in that race and ran better than the bare form would suggest, and he looks the one to be on with that run under his belt. Inching Closer rates the main danger as he is another who shaped encouragingly on his return from a break when fourth behind St Matthew at Haydock last time. However, his best form is over further than today's trip and we are prepared to oppose him. Paperprophet would have claims on the pick of his form but he has failed to complete on each of his last two starts and he can't be backed with any confidence. We will therefore stick with Carapuce who gets the confident vote.
Inching Closer 66-1 (10-9) Behind, headway after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 14, 12l behind St Matthew (11-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Paperprophet 16-1 (10-6) Held up when fell at the 4th in race won by Jazz d'Estruval (10-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (B) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Carapuce (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, ridden, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Magot De Grugy (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) hvy in Dec.
Thosewerethedays 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 14, 21l behind Diamond Sal (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Nov.
Habitual Dancer 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, joined leader approaching 5th to 6th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Vicario (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Crackleando 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, took close order 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next, 9th of 14, 40l behind Diamond Sal (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Nov.
Culcabock (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 48l behind Diamond Sal (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Nov.
