held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, led next, ridden flat, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish (rider dropped whip)
held up in touch, headway 3 out, effort between last, kept on same pace flat
tracked leaders, reminders 4th, dropped rear 4 out, soon lost touch
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and ec last, stayed on strongly to lead inside final furlong
held up in rear, blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd
tracked leader, blundered 4th, challenged 3 out, mistake next, soon weakened
led, mistake 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, every chance when mistake last, weakened flat (wore cheek pieces)
held up in rear, blundered 2 out, ridden and effort approaching last, one pace flat
A very competitive handicap hurdle can go to the Mary Reveley-trained Totally Scottish. A course and distance winner last season, the gelding looked exposed over hurdles thereafter, and although not yet back to that winning mark, he has been dropped 4lbs. Fit from the flat, he has every chance. Sunday Rain has been in cracking form for Lucinda Russell, with a couple of Hexham wins this season and a decent effort in defeat at Uttoxeter. The five-year-old won't mind the ground and should be thereabouts once again. Xaipete hasn't had a win for over two years now and as a consequence has dropped 17lbs since that success at Cartmel. The ten-year-old has won on good to firm and has plenty of winning form off higher marks than this, so he cannot be ruled out confidently, though he did run poorly last time. Others to consider are Cosmic Case, who was slightly fortunate to pick up a win at Perth last time, but will come into the race with confidence from that success, and Teme Valley, though he may need the run.
