held up in rear, ridden and weakened 5th, behind and pulled up before 3 out
in rear, blundered 2nd, ridden and some headway after 5th, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, joined leader 5th, ridden to chased winner 3out, outpaced from 2out, weakend flat and lost 2 places
held up, struggling from 5th, behind from 4 out
mid-division, headway to track leaders after 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on flat to take 2nd near finish
prominent, led after 4 out, ridden clear 2 out, ran on flat
in touch, hit 2nd, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
led, headed after 4 out, outpaced next, kept on to take 3rd near finish
in rear, hit 2nd, wide and headway 3rd, weakened 4 out pulled up 2 out
keen, in touch, lost place 4th, behind next, pulled up 2 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Jim Best complicates matters by saddling two runners in this selling handicap hurdle and there seems to be little to choose between the lightly raced White Moss, who makes his handicap debut off what seems a fair mark, and Chiff Chaff, who should do better than when disappointing on testing ground at Folkestone last month, but it is hard to get away from ETOILE D'OR. Tim Vaughan's mare won well at Hexham two starts ago and was not disgraced on ground that was probably softer than ideal at Uttoxeter last time in December. The slightly quicker ground today will suit the six-year-old and she looks the one to beat. Tarkesar has been well beaten in recent starts but has slipped to a fair mark now so cannot be discounted, while Space Pirate represents the in-form yard of Jeff Pearce and is capable but inconsistent. Nous Voila has slipped to a very favourable mark but is hard to back on recent form, while just one win from 33 starts under all codes of racing tells its own story for Safe Investment. This may not be as competitive an event as the numbers suggest and Etoile d'Or has an obvious chance and gets the vote.
Split The Wind (USA) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, struggling 5th, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Prince Geeno (11-9) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
White Moss (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, close order 5th, soon one pace, 4th of 12, 21l behind Charmaine Wood (11-7) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (3yo+) (4) sft in Nov '08.
Space Pirate 9-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, jumped left, ridden after 4th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, 38l behind Classic Dream (10-4) at Hereford 2m 1f sell (5) sft in Dec.
Safe Investment (USA) 8-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 2nd and 3rd, outpaced from 5th, last of 5, 43l behind She's Humble (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Montiyra (IRE) 100-1 (10-3) Held up, effort approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 10th of 18, 34l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Nous Voila (FR) 5-1 (10-5) Chased leader, stumbled on landing 5th, soon lost 2nd, weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 34l behind Benmore Boy (11-9) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Tarkesar (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Sovereign Spirit (11-3) at Leicester 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Dec.
Etoile d'Or (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leader until approaching and blundered last, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 24l behind Romney Marsh (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Igneous 200-1 (10-9) Mid-division, hit 4th, lost place 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 9, 35l behind Mymateeric (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Finnegans Rainbow 200-1 (10-13) Mid-division, lost place after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Hassadin (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f sell (5) gs, 15 ran.
Knar Mardy 14-1 (10-7) Track leader, weakened from 7th, pulled up after 3out, in a race won by Guydus (10-13) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft, 15 ran.
Chiff Chaff 9-4fav (11-4) Mid-division, under pressure when not fluent 2 out, soon behind pulled up last, in a race won by Ban Uisce (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Racing Stripes (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Took keen hold towards rear, stayed 2nd, never nearer, 9th of 13, well behind Makhzoon (10-12) at Leicester 2m cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) hvy in Dec.
