held up in touch, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, no impression from next
held up, ridden 3 out, stayed on well from last, nearest at finish
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, led again approaching last, kept on well
prominent, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, one pace
tracked leaders and keen, weakened after 4 out
always behind, tailed off 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, kept on from next
tracked leaders, ridden and hit 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened after 4 out, fell last
always in rear, weakened from 4th, tailed off 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, kept on from 2 out
In the opener, Premier Dane gets the verdict ahead of Maneki Neko and Frith. A 10-furlong handicap winner at Naas off a mark of 86 last summer, Premier Dane got off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles when scoring over course and distance last time and he looks a leading player again to day. But for a mistake at the last, Maneki Neko might well have won at Leicester last time, and that form puts him well into the reckong today. French import Belle Suisse is one to watch in the betting, while, having shown some promise when being highly tried on the Flat, Frith is very much one to consider. Lerida has been disappointing since a promising second run over hurdles, while Super Baby is related to a good French winner and is another to have a look at in the betting. Of the others, the mile Hamilton seller winner Mercari might be rejuvenated by hurdles, but they will need to bring about a lot of improvement, Minnesinger showed enough on the Flat to be considered, although his hurdling debut here over a longer trip needs to be built upon, and Kydd Gloves should not be dismissed based on his Flat efforts. Overall, though, we will side with Premier Dane.
Premier Dane (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway 4 out, 2nd next, ridden last, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, held on, won at Musselburgh 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gf beating My Immortal (10-12) by a hd, 7 ran.
Buldaan (FR) (9-2) Missed break, never in contention, 8th of 9, 16l behind Belle Suisse (8-13) at Compiegne 1m 1f stk gd in Jul (Flat).
Frith (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 8l behind Wild Savannah (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in May (Flat).
In Dream's (IRE) 20-1 (8-0) Always towards rear, 15th of 20, 9l behind Lord Chamberlain (9-0) at Goodwood 1m clm hcap (6) gf in Sept (Flat).
Lerida 33-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened from next, 4th of 9, 35l behind Golden Feather (10-1) at Musselburgh 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Maneki Neko (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 2 out, blundered and headed last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Jack The Giant (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Mighty Fella 100-1 (10-8) Mistake and unseated rider in race won by Calfraz (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Ophistrolie (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Towards rear, outpaced halfway, no impression, 4th of 13, 44l behind Gardasee (11-0) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (F) gs in Nov.
