behind when fell 4th
held up, headway 4 out, ridden and one pace 2 out
held up, headway going well 4th, led on bit 2 out easily
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 5 out, tailed off
led to approaching 3rd, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, blundered 2 out
keen, led 3rd until ridden and headed 2 out, kept on flat but no chance with winner
held up, ridden when mistake 4th, weakened 2 out
Nonrunner
A small but competitive field goes to post for this handicap hurdle and there is very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Ursis, Private Be, Hoh Viss and Not Left Yet and the vote is given to Private Be. The selection won with plenty in hand when beating Michigan d'Isop last time and enters handicaps off what looks a lenient mark, he has conditions to suit and in an open affair he looks the value bet. Ursis rates the main danger as he also won well last time out when beating Kentucky Blue. However he has a penalty for that win and this looks more competitive and at likely odds he looks worth taking on. Hoh Viss has conditions to suit and is another that could go well but his best form of late has been over a longer trip and he may be vulnerable at this trip. Of the remainder Not Left Yet is held in very high regard but has failed to progress as expected and in a race where the market will be very informative for the winner we return to Private Be.
Spring Pursuit 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, one pace in 3rd when fell at the last in race won by Haut de Gamme (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy, 7 ran.
Goldbrook 40-1 (11-5) Prominent, headway 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Nippy Des Mottes (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Ursis (FR) 6-4fav (11-6) Made all, ridden and hit last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) sft in Oct beating Kentucky Blue (11-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Behind, moderate effort approaching 2 out, never on terms, 12th of 20, 23l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Killing Me Softly 6-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and hit next, headed approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Haut de Gamme (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Private Be 4-9fav (10-12) Led, headed and tried to run off course after 5th, led 7th, ran on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec beating Michigan d'Isop (10-12) by 6l, 11 ran.
Woody Valentine (USA) 11-2 (11-5) In rear, headway 3 out, ridden and stayed on from next, took 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 19l behind Town Crier (11-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Hoh Viss 1-3fav (11-5) Prominent, led 6th, hit 7th, soon clear, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec beating Palm Island (10-12) by 22l, 8 ran.
