chased leader, led going best 2 out, joined and slight bump last, wandered under pressure but stayed on well run-in
kept out wide, led, not fluent 3rd, narrowly headed 2 out, hung left and lost 2nd before last, soon weakened
chased leaders, hit 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, hit last, weakened run-in
held up tracking leaders, headway chasing leaders 2 out, went 2nd briefly before last, no extra in 3rd run-in
held up in rear, bit closer 8th, headway chasing leaders approaching 2 out, weakened before last
held up in last pair, dropped to last at 5th, well behind 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in 5th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied chasing leaders before last, went right and every chance last, ridden and no extra run-in
This looks wide open but Brian Hughes takes over from a conditional on Fergal O’Brien’s Proper Ticket and there is probably more to come from Fergal O’Brien’s raider. However, CALLE MALVA could be interesting at the bottom of the handicap as he won a Hexham maiden in December and matched that effort when fourth at Ayr nine days ago in a better race than this. Bonny Houxty has placed in both hurdle starts so far and Blossoming Forth and Chanting Hill also have decent claims.
Proper Ticket (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 7th, outpaced and no impression before 2 out, soon hung left, one pace, 4th of 12, 15 1/2l behind Molly Ollys Wishes (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) sft in Jan.
Blossoming Forth (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on inside, not fluent 7th, ridden after 9th, hung left and lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 30 1/4l behind The Wolf (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 6f (4) sft in Jan.
Bonny Houxty 4-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, not always fluent, headway before 6th, 3rd and no impression on winner last, kept on, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Mayo Star (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f (4) sft in Mar.
Atlantic Dancer (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Raced wide, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 17 1/2l behind All Hail Caesar (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) Slow in Feb.
Raddle And Hum (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders before 8th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 4th of 11, 23 1/4l behind That's My Dubai (10-9) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Chanting Hill (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten, modest 4th, 4th of 10, 23l behind Desaray Girl (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Nov.
Calle Malva (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 7th, chased leaders next, one pace 3 out, ridden after next, kept on, never on terms, 4th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Baby Ticker (11-3) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
