in touch, outpaced from 3 out
tracked winner, blundered 5th, challenged 2 out, every chance last, no extra and hung badly left flat
made all, pushed along approaching 8th, under pressure last, kept on
tracked leaders and mistakes, outpaced from 3 out
held up, struggling halfway
held up, detached from 5th, took modest 3rd flat
Industrial Star sprung a surprise when landing a handicap at Kelso last week and Micky Hammond's gelding has to be respected following that improved effort but the 7lb penalty for that success makes this tougher and preference is for PADDYS HONOUR, who gets the verdict ahead of Sassanias. Alan King's gelding is relatively unexposed after just six starts and, having shown a decent level of form in bumpers, he has taken to time to find his feet over hurdles. The five-year-old has shown improved form with each start over timber though and he has to be strongly considered. Michael Chapman's McEldowney and the nine-year-old Gagarin make little appeal and of more interest may be Howard Johnson's Laborec, who has disappointed in his last two starts but has solid claims on earlier form. The vote though goes to Paddys Honours who showed a similar level of ability to Sassanias in bumpers but his form over hurdles looks marginally better and the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding is just preferred.
Sassanias (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and headway 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 17, 13l behind According To Dick (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Laborec (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Raced wide, always towards rear, ridden and struggling before 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Sashenka (10-1) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Industrial Star (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Made all, driven out flat, comfortably, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Heez A Steel (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Paddys Honour (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, left 3rd and hampered 2 out, held, 3rd of 14, 24l behind Might As Well (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
McEldowney 20-1 (10-3) Held up, reminders 3rd, struggling from 3rd, pulled up after 7th, in a race won by At The Money (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Gagarin (FR) 66-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, 11th of 15, 48l behind Festival King (10-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.