in touch, reminders halfway, ridden and lost pace from 7th
tracked leaders, hit 6th and 8th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd soon lost place
held up and keen, weakened from 8th
mid-division, tracked leaders halfway, ridden at every chance last, not quicken towards finish
led, headed 5th, lead again after 7th, ridden and under pressure 2 out, driven out
held up, weakened from 8th
with leader, mistake 7th, soon lost place
tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, outpaced after 3 out
held up pushed along and struggling from 6th puled up before 8th
held up in rear and keen, led 5th until after 7th, soon weakened
Nonrunner
In the opener, the selection has to be Secret Ploy ahead of The Hollow Bottom. If anywhere near fit, Secret Ploy, who was rated 132 when lining up for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle in March 2005, would be hard to oppose. He has not been seen since that race. The Hollow Bottom, whose bumper form is solid and his debut hurdling effort was respectable enough (he unseated rider at Ascot last time), certainly in the context of this race, so he can go well in a largely modest race. Of the others, Opare has at least shown a modicum of promise, Supreme Marque's Hereford second two runs ago only equates to the mid-70s, which is modest, and Zaffas Melody has shown some bumper promise. Overall, though, the vote has to go to Secret Ploy.
Arpeggio Major (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 24l behind Deep Reflection (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Nov.
Classic Rose (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost touch from 6th and pulled up 5 out in race won by The Whisperer (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Double Eagle 5-2 (10-12) In touch, effort 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 9, 30l behind Silver Snitch (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Maringo (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Made most to before 7th, soon lost place, weakening when mistake 9th, tailed off when jumped badly right last, 7th of 16, well behind Heraldry (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (4) sft.
Opare (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Keen, tracked leaders to 8th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind The Painkiller (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Secret Ploy 16-1 (11-7) In touch, not fluent 3rd, ridden and mistake 6th, weakened next, 10th of 20, 20l behind No Refuge (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar '05.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 6th, headed after 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 27l behind Aitch Doubleyou (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy.
Sumtototal 20-1 (10-8) Always behind, tailed off from 5th, 7th of 9, well behind Thenameescapesme (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gs.
The Client (IRE) 200-1 (11-6) In rear, lost touch 12th, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Kilty Storm (11-6) at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov chs (4) hvy, 7 ran.
The Hollow Bottom 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led approaching 4 out, narrow leader when unseated rider at the last in race won by The King of Angels (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Zaffas Melody (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and hung right over 5f out, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 16, 16l behind Barton Legend (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (H) gs in Mar '05.
Celtic Starlight 50-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, soon in touch, jumped slowly 7th, weakened after next, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Hot 'n' Holy (11-2) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Supreme Marque (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Hello It's Me (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f amt hcp hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
