mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off
with leader, led before and jumped right 2 out, pressed when blundered last, kept on gamely, driven out
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, chased winner run-in, kept on
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, soon outpaced
led, ridden and headed beforer 2 out, weakening when blundered last
held up towards rear, ridden before 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on from last
held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, kept on from 2 out
Not an attractive betting proposition but DANE COTTAGE is worth another chance for the Ellison team. Heavily supported into favouritism at Leicester latest, she only managed a fairly nondescript fourth but is well worth another chance to justify that confidence off this mark in a weak contest. Hard Tackle finds himself with topweight despite finishing a well beaten last of seven last time but did have some fair form last spring. His yard tend to improve such types quite regularly. Playful Rose has just four runs over timber, showing promise on more than one occasion. She'll have needed her comeback run and has definite claims for a yard that do well here. Forever My Friend is hard to predict at present but has claims at his best.
Hard Tackle (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Raced wide, chased leaders until weakened quickly before 7th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind What An Oscar (11-9) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Bill The Yank (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Towards rear for most, never a factor, 15th of 24, well behind Il Fenomeno (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl in Oct.
Halucha (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, lost place after 2nd, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, mistake 14th, no impression, jumped right 4 out, blundered last, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Just The Job (11-6) at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Playful Rose (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 30l behind Young Mags (11-0) at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Call Me Frankie (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 4th, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out, 6th of 11, 21l behind There And Then (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 6-4fav (10-13) Tracked leader, mistake 5th, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 8, 33l behind Rock Peak (10-0) at Wincanton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Rhythm Seeker 20-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3rd, outpaced by leading pair 3 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 29l behind Harry The Viking (11-2) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Dane Cottage 5-4fav (10-9) Close up, ridden 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on near finish, 4th of 9, 11l behind Catawollow (10-12) at Leicester 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (4yo+) (5) gd in Nov.
Dolores Ortiz (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before next, weakened soon after, 5th of 8, 11l behind Southway Star (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
