led, headed 3 out, ridden and weakened from next
raced keenly in rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway 4 out, outpaced next, soon ridden, no impression
held up, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, rider dropped whip approaching 2 out, driven last, stayed to lead flat
in touch, went 2nd 8th, led 3 out, ridden when hit last, headed no extra flat
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, every chance last, ridden and kept on flat
in touch, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, lost place 7th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
chased leader to 8th, soon lost place, weakened 3 out
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Another tough race to call here for punters with very little between the leading lights but the principals look to be Essifer, Sharp Reply and Hamnotear and the narrow vote is given to Sharp Reply. The selection was a fair sort on the flat is sure to have been well schooled for this his hurdling debut and he need only put in a clear round to get competitive. Esifer has strong claims on his hurdles form but he has had plenty of chances without taking one and is taken on with this in mind. Hamnotear is a Batshoof gelding out of middle-distance winner Topcliffe and should be noted in the market but his stable are not renowned for first time out winners. Of the remainder, Celtic Carisma has shown a modicum of ability and is another with place claims but for the winner we return to Sharp Reply to small stakes.
Essifer (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, weakened halfway, 7th of 11, well behind Astarador (11-5) at Ayr 2m beg chs (3) sft in Nov.
Hamnotear Batshoof gelding out of middle-distance winner Topcliffe.
Merrymaker 11-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, always behind, 9th of 12, 7l behind Linden Lime (9-0) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sept (Flat).
Morandi (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Raced keenly in touch, lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Bywell Beau (10-11) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
Sharp Reply (USA) 16-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Bollin Derek (9-1) at York 1m 6f hcap (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Shortbread 40-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, headway on outside halfway, ridden, hung right, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 16l behind Enjoy The Magic (8-11) at Leicester 7f 3yo & 4yo sll (5) gd in Aug (Flat).
Wee Forbees (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In touch until weakened after 3 out, 5th of 18, 31l behind Tidal Bay (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
West Highland Way (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced 5th, soon weakened, 11th of 13, well behind Smart Street (10-13) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Celtic Carisma 16-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway 6th, kept on from 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 17, 19l behind Ellerslie George (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Jessie May (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, 11th of 14, well behind Cedrus Libani (11-0) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Poems For Lara (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Prominent, 3rd over 6f out, lost place from 5f out, soon no extra under pressure and weakened, completely tailed off, last of 15, well behind Grangeclare Lark (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m mrs nhf sft in Oct.
Political Dancer 100-1 (10-4) Towards rear, mistake 3rd soon behind, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Cedrus Libani (11-0) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Sparky Rocket 100-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, weakened from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Nerone (11-2) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Taili 100-1 (10-4) Always behind, 11th of 12, well behind The Ring (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs.
Black Market (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Always behind, never able to challenge, 13th of 19, well behind Charyan (10-10) at Down Royal 2m nhf gd in Jun '05.
