held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 6th, led 3 out, ridden out
led into start, tracked leaders, ridden approaching 6th, weakened before 3 out
held up, headway approaching 6th, close up 3 out, weakened last, lost 3rd close home
prominent, lost place after 3rd, behind 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, every chance 3 out, stayed on, held by winner towards finish
soon tracking leaders, led approaching 5th, headed 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, lost place after 3rd, well beaten after 6th, mistake 3 out
tracked leader, led approaching 4th, headed before next, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, modest 7th and ridden before 3 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd close home, no chance with front pair
often jumped left, led until approaching 4th, weakened after
sometimes jumped left, held up, headway on inside approaching 4th, weakened before 3 out, fell last
Venetia Williams' pair, Credit Swap and Pepite Rose, both have decent claims here with Sam Thomas' presence on board the latter suggesting the mare is the pick of the two. But she was a long way behind GRAMS AND OUNCES at Leicester eight days ago and John Flint's in-form gelding is fancied to complete his hat-trick here. Claimer Thomas Flint has partnered to the five-year-old to both recent wins and again takes off 10lb. If I Were A Boy races off the same mark as when second over C&D four weeks ago but the remainder have plenty to prove at present.
Grams And Ounces 2-1fav (10-0) Mid-division, in touch on outside 4th, led going well 3 out, clear next, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec beating Royal Opera (10-8) by 9l, 11 ran.
Credit Swap 33-1 (11-0) Reluctant to race, not fluent and always behind, 19th of 23, well behind Decoy (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Pepite Rose (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 11, 18l behind Grams And Ounces (10-0) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Sahrati 4-1 (10-7) Chased leadrs, lost place 4th, struggling in rear after 5th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Advisor (10-9) at Hereford 2m 4f sll hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Alwaystheoptimist 20-1 (10-13) Soon tracked leaders, 6th before straight, soon no impression, 12th of 17, well behind Kirbybroguelantern (11-5) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens09 sft in Nov.
If I Were A Boy (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led, clear before 4th, pressed 3 out, headed last, soon ridden, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Ananda Kanda (11-0) at Ludlow 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-120) (3yo+) (4) gs in Dec.
Dirty Bertie (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, well held approaching 3 out, 7th of 16, 34l behind Poole Master (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Roybuoy 10-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden and kept on from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 15, 12l behind Banyan Tree (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Jolly Roger (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, not fluent next, well beaten when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cityar (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Tayarat (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led and soon clear, headed before 6th, weakened next, 7th of 8, well behind Black Dragon (9-13) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Crazy Bold (GER) 12-1 (11-7) Behind, hit 5th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Drumlang (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Canadian Diamond (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 3rd, ridden after next, not fluent and well held 3 out, 4th of 7, 24l behind Keep Talking (11-9) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
