in touch, headway 5th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, jumped right last 3, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
close up, hit 5th, outpaced after 4 out, no chance when hit next
tracked leaders, led soon after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, eased near finish
held up, headway to chase winner after 4 out, ridden and hit 2 out, no impression on winner when lost 2nd near finish
led to after 4 out, weakened and blundered next
chased leader to 4 out, weakened before next, well behind when pulled up approaching last
took keen hold, not jumped well, held up, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, saddle slipped and pulled up before 5th
Atomic Winner looks to be going the right way over hurdles now following success in his last two starts at Huntingdon and here at Ludlow but Alan King's gelding may have to settle for minor honours and preference is for Shavansky, who gets the vote ahead of Haar. The last mentioned came good when taking a maiden hurdle at Kempton last month and could be open to further improvement but he needs to improve to trouble the judge. Distiller has claims on the pick of his form but has disappointed of late and he may be best watched despite the good form of runners from the yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies. Five A Side could be of interest on his hurdling debut and it will interesting to see if there is any market support for him. The vote though goes to Charlie Mann's Shavansky, who has shown gradual improvement over hurdles and he is taken to resume winning ways having lost no caste in defeat in a handicap behind Mamlook last time.
Distiller (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Always behind, 14th of 15, 32l behind Mamlook (11-12) at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl (2) gd.
Haar 4-1 (11-0) In touch, keen, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on to chase leaders 2 out, led and mistake last, held on under pressure close home, won at Kempton 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Hope Road (11-0) by a nk, 8 ran.
Shavansky 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, smooth headway approaching 2 out, led after 2 out, driven and headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Mamlook (11-12) at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl (2) gd.
Atomic Winner (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, not much room and hampered approaching 2 out, led last, soon in command, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (5) gd beating Fairyland (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Crickie Pitch 200-1 (10-8) In touch and keen, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 39l behind Cruchain (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Five A Side 15-2 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 15l behind Dzesmin (9-3) at Catterick 1m 4f hcap (3) gd in Sept (Flat).
Flamestone 22-1 (8-5) Always rear, 9th of 10, 26l behind Vietnam (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo sll hcp (6) gs in Oct (Flat).
The Power of Phil 8-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, no headway soon one pace, 7th of 14, 9l behind Sovietta (9-0) at Kempton 1m 4f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Mar (Flat).
Shady Olive 200-1 (10-0) Behind when hit 3rd, struggling 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Isn't That Lucky (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar, 11 ran.
