close up when blundered 1st, soon lost touch, pulled up before 6th
blundered 1st, mid-division, ridden and hit 8th, soon weakened
in touch, ridden and weakened 8th, mistake 3 out
mid-division, headway 6th, soon led, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra
mid-division, ridden 8th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 8th, tracked leaders and going well approaching 2 out, soon ridden, held in 3rd when hit last
in touch, chased leader 4th, every chance 3 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, jumped well and led 2 out, driven out
held up, pulled up quickly before 7th
chased leader, ridden and weakened 5th, pulled up before 8th
chased leader, ridden and joined leader 3 out, every chance approaching 2 out, kept on from last, not reach winner
led, headed 6th, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden 7th, weakened 8th
Nonrunner
A wide open maiden hurdle here with doubts over just about every one of the field and Orchard King gets the nod ahead of Honour High and Premier Des Marais. The selection showed improved form when switched to hurdles last time out and was only just held on good to soft at Huntingdon on Boxing Day. This drop back in trip should not be a problem if his pedigree is of any value to us, nor should the better ground, so we think he can go one better. Honour High was third to the useful Lodge Lane at Fontwell and with that runner going in again on New Year's Day the form of their run here last month looks pretty solid. The step up in trip should not be a problem and he can go close. Premier De Marais is another in with chances after a very good effort at Newbury last time and if he continues to improve as he did there, as one who likes a sound surface, he won't be far away. Exmoor Racer represents the in-form Victor Dartnall and can show us more now stepped up in trip, but little else makes appeal and Orchard King is the pick.
According To Plan (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Led for 3f, remained in touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 5, 20l behind Twelve Paces (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f mdn nhf (H) gf in Jul '05.
Better Together 100-1 (10-2) In touch, mistake and weakened 4 out, hit next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mount Oscar (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Colwyn Bay (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Hidden Weapon (10-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Towards rear, some headway 8th, soon outpaced, 5th of 14, 15l behind Balamory Dan (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Great Tsar (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Chased leader, weakened over 3f out, 14th of 19, well behind Charity Lane (10-4) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Honour High 50-1 (10-12) Close up until dropped rear 5th, ridden and headway after 3 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Lodge Lane (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Napolito (FR) 2-1 (12-0) Held up; prsd ldng pr 12 til wknd 15; pulled up in race won by Celestial Heights (12-0) at Penshurst 3m ptp gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Orchard King (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 8th, chased winner 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on flat but headed close home, 2nd of 12, shd behind Rebel Melody (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Premier Des Marais (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5th, 3rd and ridden approaching last, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 5l behind Pasco (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 66-1 (11-0) Always in rear, 13th of 16, 31l behind Take Me There (11-7) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Shortgate Lane (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In rear, mistake 3rd, lost touch 8th and pulled up 4 out in race won by The Apprentice (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Strong Coffee 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division and mistake 1st, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Gansey (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
The Walnut Tree (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden 4th, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Hinton Thunderbolt (10-2) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Acosta 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 6th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 41l behind Light Yield (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Garleton (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind King Caine (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Indian Doctor 100-1 (11-1) Mid-division until weakened after 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Presentandcorrect (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
