chased leader until approaching 3rd, remained handy, ridden and weakening when jumped left and hit 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3rd until ridden before 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, ridden and weakened on long run to last, tailed off
held up in rear, steady headway 6th, challenged on bit approaching last, led and not fluent at hurdle, shaken up, eased when clear
mid-division, headway 5th, chased leader before next, led on long run to last, headed and not fluent at hurdle, one pace
always towards rear, ridden 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold towards rear, weakened after 6th, tailed off
led, ridden and headed on long run to last, soon no extra
held up towards rear, jumped right 2nd, headway next, weakening when not fluent 2 out, tailed off
always in rear, pushed along after 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold, steadied 2nd, behind before 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
The consistent pair of Callerlilly and Magnifico head the weights for this competitive handicap hurdle and they both have to be respected but may be a shade high in the handicap now to actually win and preference is for the lightly raced HOPEFUL START. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding, a point-to-point winner in the mud in Ireland on his only start between the flags, has shown gradual improvement over hurdles and ran his best race so far when making his handicap debut at Ffos Las last month when four lengths second to Sona Sasta off a mark of 104. Admittedly, the six-year-old has gone up 8lbs for that run but he is open to plenty of improvement, will relish the testing ground and he looks worth backing to go one better today. Viking Blond has gone up 8lbs for his win at Exeter earlier this month and has to be considered but the race that he won was not as good as the event in which the selection ran in. John Llewellyn's Timetoring won well enough at Leicester last time but he may struggle off his 5lb higher mark today and of more interest may be Vic Dartnell's lightly raced Cuckoo Lane. Several of these have claims but marginal preference is for Hopeful Start.
Callerlilly 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until driven after 6th, soon lost place, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Fruity O'rooney (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) std.
Magnifico (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, blundered 6th, ridden and struggling 8th, rallied from 2 out, 3rd of 14, 20l behind Fruity O'rooney (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) std.
Silver Spinner 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders approaching next, chased winner 2 out, no impression when edged left before last, 2nd of 17, 6l behind Viking Blond (10-13) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Hopeful Start (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 7th, every chance 2 out, not quicken, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Sona Sasta (10-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Viking Blond (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Behind, ridden along before 6th, headway under pressure after next, went 2nd 4 out, led before next, ridden and hit last, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Silver Spinner (11-2) by 6l, 17 ran.
Dawn At Sea 6-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, jumped slowly 4th, mistake 9th, soon lost place, stayed on from last, no threat, 6th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Sona Sasta (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Radmores Revenge 33-1 (10-8) In rear, hit 2nd, jumped left 5th, headway 8th, led after 3 out until before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 30l behind Winterwood (11-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Timetoring 7-4fav (11-0) Led to 3rd, led 5th, headed 3 out, soon led again, edged left approaching last and again flat, stayed on gamely, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan beating Its All About You (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Cuckoo Lane (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 7th,ridden after 3 out, one pace from 2 out, went right and mistake last, 4th of 15, 9l behind Dawn At Sea (11-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
The Hudnalls (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Held up in touch, headway to chase winner before 3 out to next, kept on until ridden and not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Callerlilly (11-7) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Havenstone (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 26l behind Lord Crewe (10-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
