held up in mid-division, weakened from 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, stayed on from last
held up towards rear, in 10th and making no impression when fell 2 out
in touch, led 4 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened
in rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on
close up, with leader 6th, mistake 8th, led approaching last, kept on well
led until after 2nd, chased leaders, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
held up in touch and keen, led after 2nd, headed 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, chased winner last until no extra towards finish
held up in rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, quickly weakened after 2 out
always towards rear
mid-division on inner, chased leaders approaching 2 out, weakened well before last
in touch, saddle slipped approaching 5th, pulled up after 6th
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
Phil Kirby has two runners in this handicap hurdle and both of them, Steveys Lad and Nightboat To Cairo, have claims but invariably find at least one too good and that is likely to be the same again here behind OLD NODDY, who gets the vote. The selection made an encouraging return at Newcastle in November and built on that effort when chasing home Berwick Law at Kelso the following month, form on which he has solid claims of going one better in this company despite having been raised 4lbs since that Kelso outing. Wotchalike has claims on the form shown when successful at Perth in July but he has not run up to that form in recent outings so looks best watched now, while Miss Tarantella showed improved form at Ayr when last seen in December but is now 5lbs higher in the weights. Lucinda Russell's Seeking Straight remains a maiden after 22 starts and of more interest may be Billsgrey, who ran better here last time but would probably prefer more testing ground. The going is of no concern to Old Noddy though and he looks the one they all have to beat.
Tickateal 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place from 6th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Eye Candy (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f sell hdl (5) gf in Sep, 12 ran.
Dallas Bell 40-1 (11-0) Held up, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 14, well behind Berwick Law (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Wotchalike (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 8th of 11, 26l behind The Snail (11-10) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Miss Tarantella 16-1 (10-1) Mid-division, led 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, regained lead approaching last, headed soon after, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Mister Marker (11-8) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Jane Doe 28-1 (9-12) Led, headed after 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 10, 42l behind Turtle Spirit (10-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Old Noddy (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, pushed along to lead 2 out, headed approaching next, kept on, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Berwick Law (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Steveys Lad (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Led, hit 4 out, pushed along soon after, headed approaching next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Walls Way (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Uncle Michael 25-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 14, 35l behind Barron Watlass (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Insignia (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Close up, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Hassadin (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f sell (5) gs in Feb.
Kalibs Dream 50-1 (10-2) Towards rear, steady headway 6th, chased leaders after next, weakened after 3 out, poor 7th when fell heavily 2 out, in a race won by Barron Watlass (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft, 14 ran.
Parisian Knight (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 16, 28l behind Dunbrody House (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Oct.
Apache Brave (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, weakened after 8th, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Oenologue (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Seeking Straight (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Led after 1st, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 49l behind French Ties (10-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Nightboat To Cairo (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Close up and keen, led 5th, raced wide on paddock bend approaching 6th, headed after 3 out,weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 9l behind Mardood (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Henbeck Lady (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, weakened top of straight over 3f out, 9th of 11, 46l behind Mister Pete (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Watch The Wind 66-1 (10-4) In rear, blundered 9th, fell heavily 13th, in a race won by Or de Grugy (10-7) at Kelso 2m 6f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-135) (5yo+) (3) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Billsgrey (IRE) 15-2 (9-12) Towards rear, some headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on flat, 5th of 15, 6l behind Treehouse (11-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec.
