held up towards rear, headway after 4th to chase leading pair, ridden and mistake 3 out, kept on same pace
pulled hard in rear, headway to track leaders 2nd, weakened after 4th
with leader, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 2nd to track leaders, led on bit 3 out, soon clear, easily
went left 1st, tracked leaders till 4th, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and headway after 4th, one pace from 3 out
behind from 2nd, tailed off
mid-division, lost position 3rd, ridden after 4th, no impression
tracked leaders until after 2nd, weakened approaching 4th
led, edged left and headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on but no chance with winner
Black Hills, gets the confident vote here with Inaro and Happy Shopper rating the main dangers. The selection won well on his first run of the season when beating Private Be. Granted he has a penalty for that win but he looks a progressive type and under similar conditions here he will be hard to beat. Inaro rates the main danger on his best form but he was disappointing behind Kilaghey Castle last time so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Happy Shoper is another worthy of respect on his best form but he may just need the run after a 593 day absence. Of the others There Is No Doubt was a fair bumper performer but has not progressed as expected over hurdles so far and he may be one to follow once handicapped and for the winner we return to the progressive Black Hills.
Black Hills 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, led 2 out, drew clear flat, readily, won at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (D) gs in Nov beating Private Be (10-12) by 12l, 16 ran.
Happy Shopper (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) won at Dromahane 3m mdn stk gd in Apr '04 beating Lonesome Day (11-7) by 2l, 10 ran.
Inaro (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, smooth headway to track leading pair after 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 12, 8l behind Killaghy Castle (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Miller's Monarch 12-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden over 3f out, kept on, 5th of 12, 7l behind Craven (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (H) gd in Nov.
Sativa Bay 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, headway on bit 2 out, ridden and ran on flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Supreme Piper (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gs in May '04.
There Is No Doubt (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, went 2nd 5th, lost 2nd 2 out and weakened well before last, 7th of 12, 26l behind Killaghy Castle (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Whatcanisay 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 4f, led 6f out, headed over 4f out, weakened 2f out, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Rosita Bay (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (H) gs in Nov.
Whosethatfor (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Disputed lead, led 5f out, headed 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 5th of 8, 21l behind Here's Johnny (11-0) at Sandown 2m nhf (H) gs in Nov.
