chased leaders, led 5th, hung left last, driven out
mid-division, headway 4th, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat
left in lead 1st, soon headed and hampered by loose horse, stayed prominent, weakened approaching 5th
prominent to 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, switched right flat, ran on
held up, effort approaching 5th, weakened after next
always behind, tailed off when blundered 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, weakened 3 out
in touch, led 4th to 5th, ridden after next, weakened 2 out
led after 1st, jumped right 3rd, headed next, weakened quickly
led until jumped right and unseated rider 1st
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, not quicken flat
prominent, jumped right and unseated rider 1st
chased leaders, ridden after 4th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next
There are quite a few interesting runners in this maiden hurdle, including Baie des Flamands, Oh Mister Pinceau, Prime Contender and Take A Mile, but we will side with Hawridge King. Now, Ripon 10 furlong maiden winner Baie des Flamands and has a likeable profile for this race. As does Hawridge King, who has been placed five times at up to 12 furlongs on the Flat. Oh Mister Pinceau is a Flat winner at 12 furlongs in France and has to be of interest from Henry Daly's yard, while Picot de Say came good on his most recent run, when scoring over 11 furlongs at Yarmouth. The Barry Hills-trained Prime Contender is also of interest. He has won his last two, including over 10 furlongs at Wolverhampton on October 30th. Another to consider is the Sandown 10 furlong claiming winner, Take A Mile, while Beaumont Girl won a 14-furlong Catterick seller in September. And, of course, Alan King's Proprioception, who was third at Huntingdon on her hurdling debut, brings experience to the line-up and can go well. Finally, Nepal hinted at promise on the Flat and Cava Bien won a mile maiden on the Flat, but others are preferred. Overall, then, for the selection, we will stick with Hawridge King.
Cava Bien 7-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 27l behind First Fought (10-7) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (E) gs.
David's Symphony (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up, outpaced before 3 out, headway next, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 10l behind Reaching Out (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gs.
Desert Buzz (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake last, never dangerous, 12th of 17, 35l behind Finland (10-12) at Haydock 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Hawridge King 9-2fav (8-12) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 2f out, led narrowly just inside final furlong, no extra when headed, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Melvino (8-10) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct (Flat).
Oh Mister Pinceau (FR) (10-1) 2nd of 6, hd behind Olifan De Sarti (10-1) at Le-Lion D'Angers 1m 3f non-thoroughbred NH Flat gd in Jul.
Picot de Say 9-2 (8-3) Chased leaders, led 2f out, ridden clear approaching final furlong, eased near finish, won at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo clm (6) gd in Sept beating Desperation (9-9) by 3l, 7 ran (Flat).
Prime Contender 9-2fav (9-2) Made all, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Lunar Promise (9-2) by a hd, 13 ran (Flat).
Proprioception (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed and no extra last, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Reaching Out (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gs.
