tracked leader, led 2nd, clear last, readily
mid-division until weakened approaching 4 out
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, ridden after next, went 4th 2 out, weakened
mid-division, ridden and headway after 4th, weakened next
carried wide on bend after 1st, always behind, tailed off
in touch, headway after 4th, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden to chase winner from 3 out, kept on, always held
in touch, hit 3rd, headway 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on from 2 out, went left last
led until 2nd, chased winner, ridden after 4th, soon weakened
ran wide on bend after 1st, always behind, tailed off
raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
Ignotus had a race at Newcastle taken away from him by the stewards as he was ineligible to run having been banned for 40 days but Alan Swinbank's gelding made amends when landing a decent contest at Kelso and he is taken to follow up here, getting the verdict ahead of Danger Zone and Think Lucky. The last mentioned is less exposed than most of these over hurdles after just two starts over timber and David Pipe's gelding may do better now but needs to improve to trouble the judge. Camden Four showed useful form in bumpers but disappointed on his hurdling debut and is probably best watched at present, while King's Spear similarly gave little sign for encouragement on his hurdling debut. Nolton Town has shown some ability in bumpers but would need to go better than on his first start over timber and of more interest may be Danger Zone, who has yet to translate flat form to hurdles but is surely better than we have seen from him so far. This is not the strongest of contests and Ignotus is hard to oppose.
Ignotus 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after last, held on well towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Mar beating Pagan Starprincess (10-1) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Camden Four (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Mistake 4th, always behind, 14th of 16, well behind Tampa Boy (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Danger Zone 100-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, struggling 5th, tailed off next, 6th of 9, well behind Working Title (11-7) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Gatecrasher 80-1 (10-1) Led until headed over 8f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 11th of 12, 48l behind Ronsard (10-5) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Dec (Flat).
King's Spear (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) In touch until weakened 5th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by White On Black (11-9) at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Newby Abbey (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Keen early, held up mid-division, lost place 5th, soon weakened, 10th of 11, well behind Isn't That Lucky (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Pipers Legend 66-1 (11-1) Prominent until 4th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 20l behind Otage De Brion (11-7) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Raise The Heights (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, ridden 5f out, weakened over 4f out, 15th of 17, well behind Troialini (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f clm (6) gs in Oct (Flat).
Think Lucky 66-1 (11-2) Led, soon clear, ridden and headed after 3 out, mistake next, beaten when fell at the last in race won by Song of Songs (11-9) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Madame Secretary 25-1 (10-9) Always in rear, tailed off after 4th, last of 7, well behind Dansimar (10-12) at Chepstow 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Nolton Town 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind Felinious (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Northern Seren 200-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened, 15th of 17, well behind Dansimar (9-8) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
