held up 20 lengths off the pace in 3rd, modest headway to go 2nd 2 out, never placed to challenge
held up 20 lengths off the pace in 2nd, weakened before 2 out
held up well off the pace in 4th, under pressure 4 out, stayed on to go modest 3rd approaching last, never near to challenge
made all, soon clear, 20 lengths clear after 3rd, not fluent 4th and 5th, very easily
Three Of A Kind and Tawan have yet to threaten so this looks between the two previous hurdle winners. Mountainside took well to hurdling last year winning here and at Fontwell and finishing runner-up on the other occasion. But he hasn't raced since September and MAXIE T holds the advantage returning to novice company having won a handicap at Kelso in December. He's gone close on a couple of occasions subsequently and Micky Hammond's charge gets the nod.
Maxie T 5-6fav (11-2) Tracked front pair, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden and effort between last 2, upsides last, kept on until no extra and held final 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Pistol (10-6) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Mountainside 2-11fav (11-5) Made all, hung left and head on one side from before 2 out, driven approaching last, pulled out enough to come clear towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Sep beating Jersey Bull (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Tawan 200-1 (11-2) Midfield, pushed along halfway, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Catterick 2m mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Three Of A Kind (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, went 4th when not fluent 5th, 3rd before 2 out, no impression, remote before last, 3rd of 6, dist behind Allysson Monterg (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f (3) hvy in Feb.
