held up in rear, headway 3 out, kept on flat
towards rear, never troubled leaders
always in rear, ridden over 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, every chance flat, no extra near finish
led, challenged from 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, ridden to lead last, ran on
held up in rear, headway 2 out, ran on flat, never placed to challenge
held up in touch, lost place 4th
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway and every chance 3 out, weakened after 2 out
A competitive handicap hurdle where Artane Boys looks capable of seeing off Khaysar, Kalou and Lightning Star. Artane Boys will have to produce a career best effort to score off this current mark of 104, and arguably he would be better over a bit further than this, but there was plenty to like about the way he finished off a strong pace to win at Market Rasen last time out, and with one or two in this race to set things up again he should get it run to suit. Cheek pieces were applied last time to good effect and he has them on again, so we take him to score. Khaysar was a winner over 2m 6f here last time with similar underfoot conditions. A 4lb rise plus the shorter trip will not be advantageous but he can go well without winning. Kalou is another who will appreciate trip and ground, and he ran well enough in defeat at Fontwell last time, but looks as though the handicapper may just have his measure. Of the remainder Lightning Star looks capable of going well back over this trip but again he has plenty of weight at present, and so for the winner we return to Artane Boys.