held up, lost touch approaching 6th, tailed off
chased leader until 5th, soon behind
tracked leaders, shaken up to chase leader approaching 6th, stayed on well after 2 out, led flat, ridden out
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakening in 3rd when not fluent 3 out
led, quickened approaching 6th, ridden and no extra when headed flat
lost touch from 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up, lost touch 6th, poor 4th when blundered badly 2 out, pulled up before last
Nonrunner
Ballyhoo and Forest Fauna are both in good heart at the moment and should be thereabouts, but we will take a chance with Hi Laurie. Michael Scudamore's ten-year-old has attracted plenty of money in the ring on his last two outings but on both occasions found just the one too good. Both those races were over longer trips and this drop back in distance could be just what is needed. Ballyhoo got the better of Forest Fauna when they met Newbury recently. There was only a length and a half between them and Forest Fauna is expected to reverse the form on today's revised terms. Novacella could be the pick of the others having put in a good display in a better race at Newbury last time, however punters are expected to get their money back with Hi Laurie today.
Ballyhoo (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, chased leader 2 out, driven to lead run-in, won at Newbury 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (E) gd in Nov beating Forest Fauna (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Forest Fauna 80-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, led 7th, no extra and headed run-in, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Ballyhoo (10-5) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (E) gd in Nov.
Novacella (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, nearest finish, 5th of 16, 2l behind Screenplay (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Esplendidos (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Held up in mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 14, well behind Green Iceni (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) hvy.
Hi Laurie (IRE) 6-4fav (9-10) Keen, mid-division, headway 6th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, ridden when mistake last, headed and weakened flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Arm And A Leg (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Tilla 9-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 17, 38l behind United (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Distant Romance 25-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, mistake 5th, weakened after 7th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Pearly Bay (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (C) gf in Nov, 10 ran.
Bally Bolshoi (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) Led until 2nd, prominent, led 5th until 3 out, beaten when mistake last, 2nd of 11, 13l behind Caesarean Hunter (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (F) sft.
