chased leaders, weakened from 9th, pulled up before last
led until blundered and unseated rider 3rd
always behind, mistakes
chased leaders 3rd, led 3 out, all out
held up, hit 7th, went 2nd after 4 out, weakened next
prominent, hampered 3rd, outpaced from 7th
held up, weakened 6th, went a distant 4th last
left in lead 3rd, headed 3 out, every chance until held post
behind from 5th, tailed off
Kilkenny All Star and PROFESSOR HIGGINS could be the two to concentrate on here and we will tentatively side with the last-named. The profile of Howard Johnson's inmate might set the pulse racing for all the wrong reasons as the son of Flemensfirth is yet to win under rules in nine starts. He does have an Irish point-to-point win under his belt however and he has only recently been switched to fences. His run at the track last time when second to North Island (first two well-clear) reads fairly well and he can go one better today. Kilkenny All Star was also on the end of a defeat last time out, when a quarter-of-a-length second to Za Beau. He has been given a mini-break since and is sure to be popular in the betting, although he does look a bit more exposed. High Bird Humphrey has some solid handicap form to his name, whilst Linlithgow Lad is one to watch in the betting as he drops markedly in trip this afternoon. This looks a two horse race and Professor Higgins can teach them all a lesson.
Able Dara 100-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Kingham (10-12) at Catterick 2m nov chs (4) sft in Jan.
Ballabrook (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, ridden and weakened 3 out, last of 16, well behind Kayf Keel (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Billsgrey (IRE) 80-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon struggling, behind from 4 out, 8th of 10, well behind Don't Ask Me (10-8) at Kelso 2m 6f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
High Bird Humphrey 28-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 8th, mistake 2 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Eborarry (10-1) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Kilkenny All Star (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up, ridden and headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden and led next, kept on and headed, no extra close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Za Beau (10-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Linlithgow Lad 66-1 (11-7) Led, headed 10th, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, well behind Oaklands Luis (11-9) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hts chs (6) gf.
Naval Attache 10-1 (10-0) In touch, driven and outpaced when blundered 4 out, soon ridden, mistake next, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Glimmer of Light (9-13) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Professor Higgins (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-0) In touch, challenged 3 out, no extra from last, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind North Island (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs in Dec.
Tully Hill 250-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place 12th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Chief Dan George (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Feb, 9 ran.
