led, headed approaching 4th, weakened before 2 out
fell 1st
held up in last pair, some headway when mistake 2 out, no impression, not fluent last, weakened on extended run-in
mid-division, mistake 3rd and pushed along briefly, closed after next, blundered last, weakened on extended run-in
tracked leader, led before 4th, ridden and stayed on well on extended run-in
tracked leaders, 2nd when mistake 2 out, 3rd and beaten from last, stayed on same pace on extended run-in
tracked leaders, went 2nd and switched right after last, closed on extended run-in, stayed on, held towards finish
held up in last pair, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on final 200 yards, went 4th close home, no impression
Bold Duke wasn't winning out of turn at Warwick but this looks a bigger ask. Ballyglasheen landed the Swinton Hurdle off a 2lb higher mark back in 2014 but hasn't visited the winner's enclosure since and is on the verge of becoming disappointing. Kiama Bay has yet to reproduce last season's form and is now tried in a visor while Whispering Harry is out of sorts and best known as a chaser. We can see no reason why Wincanton winner FLORESCO should be thereabouts again, despite a 6lb rise. He holds Global Thrill on the form book and is more consistent than Crookstown and Theatre Flame.
Kiama Bay (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed after next, well held in 4th from 2 out, 4th of 5, 31 1/4l behind Oscar Sunset (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Ballyglasheen (IRE) 13-8fav (10-11) Held up well off the pace in midfield, headway over 2f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never on terms, 5th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Obboorr (10-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Crookstown (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, closed before 4th, one pace 2 out, no extra before last, 8th of 17, 17 1/4l behind Kings Bayonet (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Floresco (GER) 5-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, hung left under pressure after last, all out (1 hurdle omitted), won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Rafafie (10-2) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Theatre Flame (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) Chased leader until 3 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out, 6th of 13, 33l behind Baoulet Delaroque (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Whispering Harry 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, quickly weakened before 5 out, pulled up, at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Bold Duke 15-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Red Hott Robbie (11-2) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Global Thrill 40-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 11th of 12, 27 1/4l behind Floresco (10-13) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
