with leader, ridden over 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway over 2 out, weakened approiaching next
held up mid-division, weakened 3 out
held up in touch, tailed off 3 out, pulled up next
led, headed and hit 3 out, led again 2 out, driven out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed next, soon weakened
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, kept on from last
held up, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up next
held up, chased leaders approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last until no extra run-in
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Little Firecracker has at least raced recently on the flat so there should be no doubts about her fitness but she needs to improve on her form in this grade to trouble the judge and a better bet looks to be KNAR MARDY, who gets the vote with Romney Marsh looking the best of the rest. The selection has yet to even be placed in any of her six starts so far but she is likely to better now sent handicapping and Nicky Henderson still has his team in great form having had three winners on the bumper card at Southwell earlier this week so she has solid claims. Flash Harriet ran better at Bangor last time but looks plenty high enough in the weights for what she has achieved and of more interest may be Gunnasayso. Jim Old's mare has yet to win a race but she has run some reasonable races in defeat and cannot be ruled out. Kassuta has dropped to a decent mark but is hard to recommend on all known form and a bigger threat is likely to come from Rowan River. Alison Thorpe's mare showed improved form at Wincanton on Boxing Day when chasing home Mix N Match and she has to be respected off just a 5lb higher mark today but it may be worth siding with Knar Mardy on her handicap debut.
Hazy Oaks 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, blundered 5th, weakened from 9th, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off, in a race won by Jim Tango (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Little Firecracker 6-1 (11-4) Led, hit 4th and 8th, headed 9th, pushed along next, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Petroglyph (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Flash Harriet 33-1 (10-5) Held up, went 3rd 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 21l behind Peddlers Cross (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rowan River 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led before and blundered 2 out, ridden and headed when mistake last, weakened flat, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Mix N Match (10-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Sawpit Supreme 28-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 14, 44l behind Oscar Whisky (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Home She Goes (IRE) 200-1 (10-4) Led, hit 6th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakend, 5th of 14, well behind Bobby Ewing (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Romney Marsh 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Richard The Third (11-9) by 6l, 10 ran.
Knar Mardy 25-1 (10-5) In touch, lost place before 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Gunnasayso 11-2 (9-11) Held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 9, 26l behind Tarateeno (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Sophisticated Lady 66-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, 11th of 12, well behind Cobbler's Queen (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f Mares Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-105) (3yo+) (4) gd in Nov.
Kassuta 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 5th, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 31l behind Quinte Du Chatelet (12-4) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Dec.
Finnish Melody 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, not fluent 4th, ridden and weakened after next, 8th of 11, well behind Quinte Du Chatelet (12-4) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Dec.
Etain (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden and struggling well before 2 out, 9th of 12, 34l behind Dot's Delight (10-5) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
