held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next
held up, headway 9th, challenged 2 out, led between last 2 out, hit and headed last, one pace
with leader, not fluent 3rd, weakened from 9th, pulled up after 3 out
led to 8th, soon beaten
always behind, pulled up after 3 out
held up, headway 9th, went 3rd 2 out, weakened after last
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from last
tracked leaders and keen, went 2nd at 3rd, led 8th, headed between last 2, regained lead last, stayed on well
Aces Four can come out on top in this handicap hurdle and he is nominated over Coq Hardi and Keen Warrior. The selection is returning from a break and he is back over hurdles today after a spell over the bigger obstacles. He should have too much class for this field and Ferdy Murphy's 9-year-old is a confident choice. Coq Hardi won emphatically last time at Bangor when he beat Red Scally but this is tougher and he also has a penalty to shoulder. Keen Warrior ran well for a long way at Doncaster last time before falling, but he would prefer more testing ground to this. Mr Shambles has a nice racing weight and he can go well at a price. However, class should tell here and Aces Four looks the obvious choice.
Aces Four (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up and behind, not fluent 12th, progress soon after, weakened quickly after 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Ollie Magern (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Nov, 7 ran.
Coq Hardi (FR) 6-1 (11-10) In rear, headway approaching 8th, led approaching last, soon clear, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd beating Red Scally (11-7) by 18l, 9 ran.
Wicked Nice Fella (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, slowly 3rd, mistake 11th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Youll Do For Me (11-7) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Michaels Dream (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 12, 44l behind Fresh Winter (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Cottam Grange 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Cortinas (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Keen Warrior 100-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden, in touch when fell 2 out in race won by Mous Of Men (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jan, 20 ran.
Willies Way 12-1 (11-6) Close up, chased winner after 6th, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 18l behind Dickie Lewis (9-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Mr Shambles 14-1 (10-2) Led, soon clear, headed when mistake 3 out, weakened next, 12th of 15, well behind Khasab (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan.