mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out to track leaders, soon ridden and kept on until blundered last and no extra flat
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, weakened 9th
made all and soon clear, driven out from approaching last
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impresson
tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next
always towards rear
tracked leader, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened from next
mid-division, ridden 9th, weakened from next
An interesting little novices hurdle, in which our vote goes to Key Time ahead of Ferrando and Willie Pep. The selection was heavily eased when beaten on his hurdling debut last month, but is expected to have benefited for that run and this former Sir Mark Prescott gelding could easily be good enough to make amends today. Ferrando stood no chance against the mightily impressive Astarador last time and whilst he was only banded class on the flat, he could be the one to give the selection the most to do. Willie Pep makes his hurdling debut today after two fine bumper runs, the latter in a decent contest at Ascot, and if handling the obstacles he could go very well for his inf-form stable. We also know that he will handle any further easing in the ground, and so he definitely goes on the shortlist. The rest appear to be very average indeed, although Action Strasse would go well if reproducing his bumper form but he hasn't looked a natural over obstacles, whilst Glen Harley won well at Hexham on his penultimate start but the suspicion is that he would prefer better ground. Therefore, in an intriguing contest, the vote goes to Howard Johnson's Key Time.
Action Strasse (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until outpaced after 4 out, 6th of 15, 21l behind Smart Street (10-7) at Kelso 2m nh mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Cash Man (IRE) 2-1 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, driven and outpaced approaching last, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, well behind Chief Dan George (11-0) at Hexham 3m mdn hdl (4) hvy.
Ferrando 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway to chase winner approaching 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 11, 28l behind Astarador (11-5) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Glen Harley (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up, headway to go prominent before 3 out, no impression, 5th of 13, 13l behind The Last Viking (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Key Time (IRE) 8-15fav (10-12) Chased leaders, chased winner from 4 out, mistake 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 17, 12l behind Ellerslie George (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Loch Oscaig 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, hit 7th, soon outpaced, 12th of 16, well behind King Daniel (10-11) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Thatlldoforme 33-1 (10-8) Mid-division, brief effort 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 13, well behind Top Cloud (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f cnd nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Willie Pep (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up and keen, headway 6f out, ridden 2f out, kept on, not reach leader, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Golden Child (10-13) at Ascot 2m nhf (3) sft in Nov.
