tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd 3 out, led approaching 2 out where not fluent, headed approaching last, no impression towards finish
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, jumped slowly 3 out, well held by leaders from 2 out
mid-division, lost place after 5th, well held after, not given hard time, not fluent last
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, ridden 3 out, jumped right when beaten 2 out, went 3rd close home, no impression
held up in rear, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked clear leader, closed after 3rd, carried left 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, not fluent last, ran on well
jumped left and not always fluent, led and clear until after 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten, lost 3rd close home
Forward Flight won a Sedgefield bumper last month and the ex-Irish Hawkhill could figure if a Plumpton run has blown away a few cobwebs. Hurdling newcomers Compton Blue and Cheddar George, a rare runner over jumps for Peter Chapple-Hyam, are also interesting while Cut The Cards is open to improvement but this may chiefly concern previous winners Cry Of Freedom and TINDARO. John Ferguson's charge is back in novice company after a fair run in a handicap at Musselburgh but it's Paul Webber's grey that gets the nod as he won well at Stratford nine days ago, despite still looking a long way from the finished article. He should build on that today.
Cry of Freedom (USA) 12-1 (10-7) Held up, jumped right 1st, headway when mistake 4th, mistake 6th, disputing 2nd 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 13, 10l behind Stormy Weather (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Cheddar George 7-2fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, behind, headway over 1f out, soon ridden and hung left, one pace, 6th of 13, 9l behind Kodicil (8-6) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct (flat).
Compton Blue 11-4fav (9-4) Mid-division, pushed along 4f out, no impression over 2f out, 9th of 12, 5l behind Mountrath (9-5) at Kempton 1m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov (flat).
Cut The Cards (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Prominent, hard ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened after next, 9th of 15, 29l behind Swing Bowler (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Forward Flight (IRE) 3-10fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, joined leader over 6f out, ridden to challenge over 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, edged left and held on towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Mar beating Backstage Lady (9-11) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Hanahoe 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, in touch 5f out, no impression over 2f out, 10th of 13, 20l behind Ace Fighter Pilot (11-0) at Towcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Nov.
Hawkhill (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly 3 out, dropped to 3rd and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 13, 29l behind Duaiseoir (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
I Know The Code (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Close 5th on outside, driven and mistake 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off and eased, 8th of 10, well behind Tell Me Y (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Tindaro (FR) 5-4fav (11-0) Mid-division in touch, mistake 3rd, tracked leaders after 4th, led going well after 3 out, drew clear on bit from next, very easily, won at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Dark Spirit (10-6) by 12l, 10 ran.
Bilidn 9-4fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led narrowly towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar beating Den Maschine (9-9) by hd, 11 ran (flat).
