chased leaders, chased winner approaching 4 out, one pace from 2 out
in rear, headway after 7th, chasing leaders approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and struggling after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, lead after 8th, driven out
mid-division, reminders and lost place after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
led, hit 8th, soon headed, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, weakened from 9th, tailed off when blundered last
Mumbles Head gets the confident vote here with Night Safe and Chamacco rating the main dangers. The selection won in facile fashion last time out when beating Dazzling Jim, granted he has a penalty for that win but he again has conditions to suit and he is taken to win this before going on to better things. Night Safe rates the main danger as he has won his last two bumpers in good style. He is sure to have been well schooled for this huis hurdling debut and should be watched in the market but the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over a longer trip in time. Chamacco wouls have place claims on his best form but he may just need the run after a 227 day abscence. Of the remainder Water Pistol is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he has yet to prove he stays this far and for the winner we return to Mumbles Head who will be hard to beat.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 85-40fav (10-11) Prominent, went 2nd 9th, led after 3 out, ran on well, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) gf in Sept beating Dazzling Jim (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Chamacco (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Herakles (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb, 15 ran.
Goldsmeadow 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, driven along, weakening from 4th, 10th of 12, well behind Freeloader (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Night Safe (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led 2f, led again halfway, headed over 3f out, led again 2f out, ran on, won at Haydock 2m nhf (6) hvy in Feb beating Heraldry (11-4) by 2l, 20 ran.
Westmere 9-2 (10-11) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, not fluent 6th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Seafield Bogie (11-6) at Market Rasen 3m nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Water Pistol 22-1 (10-9) Led, headed 3rd, led again 4th, headed 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 20, 12l behind Sundawn Lady (10-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Sept.
Celtic Flame 18-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, driven along after 5th, never dangerous, 5th of 14, 21l behind Makeabreak (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mrs mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun.