HELLO MOSCOW looks the sort to improve on this his handicap bow and he gets the vote over Jim Bobs Girl and Mr Mackay. Jim Best's gelding was not disgraced last time out at the track when he was beaten into third behind Star Lord. He was a winner of three point-to-points over in Ireland and he doesn¿t look to be over-burdened with a mark of 110, although the handicapper has taken no chances due to the reputation of the yard. It could also be argued that the mark could be viewed as lenient as he did finish in-front of a 109-rated individual although the latter was disappointing. Mr Mackay is another handicap debutant and he has shown ability in three starts to date, putting in his best run when only beaten by a nose at Chepstow last time; he looks to be a strong stayer. Last Flight and Moustique De L'Isle need to get over poor recent efforts, and a bigger threat could be Jim Bobs Girl. In the care of Tim Vaughan, this game Flemensfirth mare stays all day and has been holding her form well of late although her handicap mark has suffered as a result. Before Dark returns from a two year absence however his trainer is adept at getting horses fit and it would be unwise to overlook his chance today. Various headgear are applied for the first time on Hereditary and On Spec in the hope of eliciting some improvement, however in a tricky race to open the card, it is Hello Moscow who can score twelve points.
Hello Moscow (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Pressed leader, pushed along approaching 8th, lost 2nd just after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Star Lord (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
On Spec 33-1 (11-0) Hit 6th, always behind, tailed off, 6th of 16, 27l behind I'm The Decider (11-3) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Mr Mackay 20-1 (11-6) In touch, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied again flat, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Radmores Revenge (11-3) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Mister Pink 13-2 (11-3) In touch, weakened 10th, tailed off after next, 5th of 8, well behind Phone In (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Oct.
Jim Bobs Girl (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) With leader, led 13th to next, outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Orki Des Aigles (10-6) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Before Dark (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led 3 out, ran on, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec '06 beating Jug Of Punch (9-13) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Hereditary 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, driven along from 6th, soon in rear, hampered 7th, 6th of 19, 41l behind Wychwoods Legend (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Glen Omen (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Led until after 1st, chased leader, hit 8th, weakening when hampered on bend soon after, 11th of 18, well behind Heathcliff (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Karasakal (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Led, clear 4th, hit 6th, headed 3 out, mistake and weakened next, well beaten when hit last, 8th of 11, 35l behind Edgbriar (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Painter Man (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Held up, keen, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 15, 25l behind Secret Tune (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Moustique de L'Isle (FR) 10-1 (11-1) pulled up at the 12th in race won by Natoumba (11-3) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Last Flight (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division, hit 4th, weakened after 8th, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Heathcliff (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 18 ran.
Arctic Shadow 11-1 (10-10) Raced wide, held up in mid-division, effort and ridden after 9th, no impression on leaders from 3 out, 5th of 16, 16l behind I'm The Decider (11-3) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
See The View (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, moderate 6th, no chance when fell at the last in race won by Maori Legend (11-5) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Simple Glory (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Awkward 1st, prominent, lost place 2nd, mistake 11th (water), badly hampered by loose horse 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Just Smudge (11-7) at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Ortega (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, challenged 5 out, every chance next, weakened quickly 2 out, 5th of 15, well behind Just Smudge (12-1) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Silver Missile 500-1 (10-5) Chased clear leader until 6th, weaekend before next, 5th of 10, well behind Bensalem (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Youluckyman (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division when hampered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Delightfully (11-11) at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 18 ran.
