led, pushed along and hit and headed last, one pace
in rear, clipped heals and slipped on bend before 1st
held up towards rear, blundered 3 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, hit 2nd, soon in rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, tailed off next
tracked leaders, lost place from 2nd, in rear from 2 out
held up towards rear, in touch approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, good headway 3rd, went 3rd approaching last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, pressed leader from 3 out, challenged when hit last, no extra
with leaders, hit 2nd, soon pushehd along and lost place, tailed off 2 out, pulled up before last
MOUNTSKIP is no good thing but his recent placed form reads well in the context of this race and he can see off Teenando and Parisian Knight. Rose Dobbin's gelding is up a solitary pound for finishing second to Beidh Tine Anseo at Kelso and a repeat of that run could be good enough today. He is yet to win in nine starts but this looks his easiest opportunity and with the quick ground in his favour he can prevail. Hernando Cortes is held on that Kelso run, Teenando returns to hurdling after just a modest third over three miles at Newcastle in March, whilst Glengap was well-fancied when last seen but failed to complete. He has a first run for Elliot Cooper today and the rookie trainer has already shown that he can produce winners. Parisian Knight drops in trip and a repeat of his third to Bewery Man puts him in the mix, I See A Star is not ignored despite being pulled up earlier in the month at Wetherby, whilst Little Wizard hasn't always looked the most fluent of hurdlers but he is less exposed than most and this is a drop in grade. Mountskip is narrowly preferred.
Little Wizard (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Raced keenly, held up behind until headway to lead 5th, hit and headed 7th, tracked leader, blundered 9th and next, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 31l behind Thyne For Deploy (10-13) at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
I See A Star 25-1 (11-1) Prominent, took keen hold, not fluent 8th, weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Flying Doctor (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hld 0-95 (5) gd, 14 ran.
Danehill Silver 80-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, quickly weakened approaching 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Beidh Tine Anseo (11-2) at Kelso 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Hernando Cortes 25-1 (10-11) Always behind, weakened from 4 out, 13th of 16, 35l behind Beidh Tine Anseo (11-2) at Kelso 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Mountskip 13-2 (10-4) Chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden and headed over 1f out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 16, 14l behind Beidh Tine Anseo (11-2) at Kelso 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Teenando (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 5th headed and reminders after 8th, led again 11th, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 3rd of 10, 33l behind Schindlers Maze (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Glengap (IRE) 5-1fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, blundered 5th, always behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Legends Lass (10-11) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-85 (5) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
Parisian Knight (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Led, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 49l behind Pugnacity (10-1) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Devils And Dust (IRE) 4-1 (12-5) (cp) ap; led aft 14 til hdd aft 2 out; sn outpcd, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Ramborob (11-12) at Hexham 3m ptp gs.
Gala Queen 100-1 (10-6) Jumped left throughout, led, hit 6th, headed before 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Bewery Man (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 4f sell hdl (5) gf in Apr.