towards rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway halfway, effort 2 out, one pace approaching last
mistakes, tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, hit 6th, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway halfway, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on
in touch to halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, effort 2 out, kept on under pressure to chase winner run-in
towards rear, pushed along and some headway after 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
Hickleton Dream, Farne Isle and County Classic form our shortlist with the vote going to Hickleton Dream. Looking at the runners. Supreme Lass won a Doncaster bumper on soft last year and the best she has offered up this time around is a third in a Southwell maiden hurdle. She'll appreciate the loner trip today but some juice in the ground might help also. L'Orage Lady has shown promise in three bumpers and, quite nicely bred for this game, now makes her hurdling debut. The nine-year-old Its Sunny is hard to assess as she has yet to race. Much as she hails from an in-form yard, others are preferred. Hickleton Lad, placed over 14 furlongs on the Flat, showed some promise on her hurdling debut at Hexham last time and is entitled to progress. Farne Isle won a Sedgefield bumper on heavy in January and has progressed with each run over hurdles, finishing a 10-and-a-half length fourth to Chivalry at Ayr last time. A repeat of that would give him a good chance although it's difficult to evaluate the bare form as they went slowly early on. County Classic is also a Sedgefield bumper winner, showing decent form at that level, and he she is entitled to have her supporters on her hurdling bow. Baby Jane won a 12-furlong seller at Pontefract in April 1997 but has been very lightly raced since then and has something to prove here. Overall, then, we'll side with Hickleton Dream.
