held up in rear, headway when not fluent 5th, 3rd before 2 out, no impression, weakened into 4th well before last
in touch in main bunch, closed and went 2nd from 5th, ridden and no impression on winner after 2 out, 3rd last, weakened flat
mid-division, pushed along from 3rd, outpaced 6th, well beaten before 2 out
towards rear, jumped slowly 2nd and when behind 4th, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader until before 3rd, lost place approaching next, outpaced 5th, well beaten before 2 out
made all, clear until 4th, clear again from 2 out, easily
in touch in main group, closed 3rd, outpaced 5th, weakened before 2 out
chased winner until 5th, 4th and ridden 2 out, went 2nd again last, no impression on winner, one pace
Manballandall is getting closer and Milly Baloo's consistency is hard to fault but the handicapper may have finally got a grip on front-runner Beyondtemptation. KID VALENTINE (NAP) runs in this more competitive affair rather the opening novice hurdle and the hint should be taken. Michael Smith's unexposed six-year-old will make a chaser in time but showed a nice attitude in getting off the mark over timber here last time and the step up in trip should see him in an even better light. Octagon drops down a grade but still looks too high in the weights while Redkalani is not really firing at present.
Octagon 14-1 (10-9) Towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Kid Valentine (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Made most, driven between last 2, 2 lengths clear last, ridden out flat, kept on well, won at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Storm Forecast (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Manballandall (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Led, driven and headed after 3 out, ridden to regain lead after next, headed approaching last, kept on same pace, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind See Double You (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Milly Baloo 2-1fav (11-1) Close up in 5th,headway 3 out, tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, kept on same, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Moidore (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Redkalani (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, headed before 3 out, every chance before 2 out, ridden before last, no extra run-in, 5th of 7, 9l behind Imperial Prince (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Beyondtemptation 9-2 (10-6) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, well held before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Card Game (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Silverton 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders to before 5th, soon ridden, behind 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Ayr 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Rinnagree Rosie 18-1 (10-0) In touch on inside, reminders after 6th, outpaced when lost place 2 out, kept on under pressure from last, never near leaders, 5th of 10, 17 1/2l behind See Double You (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
