held up towards rear, struggling from 5th, pulled up before last
in touch, pushed along from 4th, outpaced from 5th, pulled up before last
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, headway to chase leader after 2 out, led last, ridden out
led, hit 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
held up in rear, raced wide, blundered 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leader, led approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on flat
Miss Tarantella confirmed a liking for testing ground when landing a handicap here earlier this month but this looks tougher and the finish may be fought out by two lightly raced runners, JOE'S A BOY and Letterpress, with marginal preference for the former. Don McCain's string are beginning to find their form now and having run a highly creditable debut in a soft-ground bumper at Uttoxeter last month, Joe's A Boy, who is by Beneficial out of an unraced sister to Grand National winner Royal Athlete, is taken to make a winning start to his hurdling career. Almond Court has earned a higher rating than Miss Tarantella but has yet to confirm an ability to handle testing ground, while neither Pimbo Lane nor Castleroche make any real appeal. Like the selection, Letterpress ran promisingly on his bumper debut and Howard Johnson's gelding has to be hugely respected first time out over hurdles but preference is for Joe's A Boy.
Castleroche (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Behind, ridden 4 out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 32l behind Andrew Nick (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Joe's A Boy (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) In touch, led 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, bumped over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Cherry Flora (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs in Oct.
Letterpress (IRE) 5-2fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, smooth headway and every chance over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 25l behind Copper Sound (10-4) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) hvy in Apr.
Miss Tarantella 100-1 (9-11) Made all, soon clear, stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy beating Digital Media (11-4) by 9l, 14 ran.
Almond Court (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) Behind, tailed off from 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Border Reiver (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct, 11 ran.
Pimbo Lane (IRE) 200-1 (10-9) In touch, smooth and every chance approaching 2 out, ridden and weakened from next, 5th of 15, 32l behind Master Builder (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
