led, stumbled 4 out, ridden next, headed approaching 2 out, weakened
tracked leader throughout, joined 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on
mid-division and keen, hampered 4th, ridden and weakened 4 out
tracked leaders and keen, jumped right 4th, weakened 4 out
held up, mistake 2nd, weakening when pecked 4 out
towards rear, mistake 1st, headway after 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, headway 3rd, hampered and carried right 4th, weakened 2 out
Michael Muck won a little more cosily than the winning margin would suggest when successful here over 2m4f last month and has an obvious chance of following up which the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding is taken to do at the main expense of Papeete and Only For Sue. The last mentioned, like the selection, has a penalty to carry for his hurdling debut success but he needs to improve on the form shown at Exeter to trouble Michael Muck. The Venetia Willaims-trained Mr Vesuvius and Paul Keane's Rash Talk warrant respect on their hurdling debuts but a bigger threat is likely to come from recent Lingfield winner Papeete, although the ground may be softer than ideal for him and a safer bet looks to be Michael Muck, who gets the vote.
Michael Muck 3-1 (10-12) Prominent, hung left and joined leader approaching last, led soon after, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Hopkins (10-12) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Only For Sue 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led soon after 2 out, soon ridden, ran on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating The Composer (10-12) by 6l, 17 ran.
Extra Bold 20-1 (10-12) Keen, always towards rear, tailed off from 4 out, 14th of 15, well behind Star Shot (11-3) at Chepstow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Mr Vesuvius (NZ) Pompeii Court gelding out of Snow Dance.
Rash Talk (IRE) Rashar gelding out of Talk Tonight.
Shankly Bond (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Soon mid-division, headway 6f out, ridden 3f out, not much room over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 9l behind Gentleman's Deal (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan (Flat).
Papeete (GER) 5-1 (10-10) Keen hold early, held up in touch, headway to track leading pair 5th, left narrow 2nd 2 out, led before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Tambourine Davis (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Radigan Lane 66-1 (10-3) Mid-division, lost place and tailed off from 3rd, last of 11, well behind Spinning Coin (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
