with leaders, struggling from 4th
held up, headway 4 out, outpaced next
with leaders, led 4 out, headed approaching next, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, outpaced from 3 out, no impression from next
always prominent, led approaching 3 out, clear next
held up in touch, headway to chace winner approaching 3 out, one pace from next
in rear, struggling halfway, pulled up before 3 out
with leaders until halfway, pulled up before 3 out
led to 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
Flying Doctor, Royal Flynn and Bouncing King look the main protagonists in this trappy novices hurdle and the vote is given to Flying Doctor. The selection was a fair second behind Solitary Palm last time out and with his useful conditional taking off a handy seven pounds he looks the one to be on. Royal Flynn rates the main danger on his latest second behind Pevensey but he will be handicaped after this run and that is where his future may lie. Bouncing King was a fair third behind Dancers Serenade but the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over a longer trip in time. Of the remainder Nelson du Ronceray is from a shrewd yard and should be noted in the market, but for the winner we are happy to return to Flying Doctor to small stakes.
Dalkeys Lad 40-1 (11-9) Prominent, weakened 4 out, 7th of 15, well behind Bywell Beau (11-6) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Beggars Cap (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Mister Potter (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Bouncing King 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and outpaced from next, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Dancer's Serenade (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Little Bob 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leader to 4 out, soon outpaced, 6th of 12, 26l behind Mohayer (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 5-1jt-fav (11-4) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 16, 11l behind Pee Jay's Dream (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Royal Flynn 12-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 16, 10l behind Pevensey (10-9) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
The Weaver (FR) 66-1 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 11l behind Modicum (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Flying Doctor 13-8 (10-7) In touch, driven, outpaced between last 2, rallied last, stayed on to chase winner towards finish, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Solitary Palm (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.