held up, headway to track leaders before 3 out, chased leader 3 out, hit 2 out, challenged last, hard driven to lead flat, all out near finish
in touch, lost place 5th and soon well behind
took keen hold, tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, hit next
held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, went modest 3rd 2 out, soon wandered under pressure and no impression
pressed leader, led narrowly 6th until approaching 3 out, soon weakened
led until narrowly hit 6th, chased leader, regained lead approaching 3 out, strongly pressed and not fluent last, headed flat, rallied near finish, always held
Money Order was doing all of his best work late on when winning here last month and is hard to oppose despite a penalty for that success so Brendan Powell's gelding gets the vote ahead of Super Nick and Master Somerville. The last mentioned has yet to translate the promise that he showed in a bumper since being switched to hurdles but Henry Daly's gelding may do better under more testing conditions today. Stormy Bay looked held when falling last time and is hard to recommend, while bumper winner Stripe Me Blue fell on his only hurdles start in a better race at Ascot and is hard to weigh up. Super Nick, twice a winner in bumpers, showed little sign of ability on his hurdles debut but is probably better than he showed that day and cannot be discounted. Money Order has solid claims though and is hard to oppose.
Money Order (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) In touch, took closer order 3 out, ridden after 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb beating Oslot (11-4) by a nk, 12 ran.
Master Somerville 7-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 5th, 7th of 15, 43l behind Khasab (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Rucolino (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Lead On (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Silverbar 66-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden and behind from 5th, 12th of 16, well behind Air Force One (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Stormy Bay (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden to chase leading pair when fell 3 out in race won by Back Among Friends (11-2) at Chepstow 2m nh mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Stripe Me Blue 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until fell at the 5th in race won by Warlord (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Super Nick (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, mistake 3rd and 4th, weakened from next, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Anglicisme (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
