mid-division, headway 6th, disputing close 2nd when fell 3 out
chased leader 2nd, left in lead and pecked 5th, ridden and leading approaching 2 out, hung left approaching last, kept on to take 2nd close home
prominent to 3rd, soon behind
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on (hand timed)
led until ran out 5th
held up, headway 4th, chased winner and hung left approaching 2 out, no extra flat
behind, headway 6th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up and pulled hard, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, jumped slowly 6th, ridden to chase leader briefly approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Hoh Viss gets the call here ahead of Clyffe Hanger and Cash And New. Hoh Viss looked as good as ever when scoring at Market Rasen on his return and he can win again. His earlier form includes a good run behind subsequent Triumph winner Made In Japan. Clyffe Hanger showed plenty of promise in bumpers and gets a good mention, while Cruising Clyde has shown promise in each hurdle start, and he would have needed the latest of them. From Jonjo O'Neill's stable, the 65,000 euros purchase It Would Appear showed promise in his sole bumper run, while Thistlecraft showed promise when last seen in 2004, but has not raced since then. Towcester bumper winner Cash And New gets a solid mention. The vote, though, goes to Hoh Viss.
Hoh Viss 8-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, soon led, headed next, stayed again to lead last, ridden clear flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (E) hvy beating Lennon (10-12) by 5l, 13 ran.
Ballyshan (IRE) (12-0) 2nd of 12, 3l behind Grasia (12-0) at Loughanmore 3m mdn stk gd in Apr '04.
Blazing Batman 125-1 (9-11) Always behind, 8th of 12, 49l behind Magic Sky (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Sept.
Clyffe Hanger (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tailed off in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong to press for 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Here's Johnny (11-0) at Sandown 2m nhf (H) gs.
It Would Appear (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) In touch, every chance when hung left over 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 7, 3l behind The Hollow Bottom (10-8) at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gd.
Cruising Clyde 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, close up 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 12, 17l behind Fleurette (10-7) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) hvy.
Thistlecraft (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Whitford Don (11-1) at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Mar '04.
Cash And New (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Held up, headway halfway, led well over 1f out, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, ran on, won at Towcester 2m mrs nhf (H) sft in Feb beating Retro's Girl (10-7) by 5l, 10 ran.