held up in rear, headway after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, but never going pace to reach leaders
took keen hold, not fluent 1st, soon chased leaders, led, going well between last 2, kept on well until headed, not pace of winner final 75 yards
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, went 2nd, hit 4 out, every chance when hit 2 out, no extra run-in
close up, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next
behind, mistake 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from next, but never reached leaders
held up, until mistake, unseated rider 4th
chased leaders to 6th, soon well behind, pulled up before 2 out
behind, stayed on from 3 out, never reached leaders
behind, moderate headway from 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 6th, headway to lead, hit 3 out, headed between last 2, weakened run-in
behind, mistake 6th, pulled up before next
held up in mid-division, steady headway on inside approaching 2 out, chased leader going well approaching last, ran on to lead final 75 yards
led, ridden after 4 out, headed 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, mistake, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, blundered 2nd, ridden before 6th, blundered, weakened 4 out
jumped slow 1st, always behind
Nonrunner
New Mischief is our choice to win this handicap hurdle; of the remainder, Gentleman Jimmy, Down's Folly, Abraham Smith, Huckster and Lucky Do are shortlisted. New Mischief won a similar event to this at the start of March, beating Zouave by a short head. He is still relatively unexposed and only has an extra four pounds to carry today. Noel Chance has his horses running well at the moment so New Mischief can do the business here. Gentleman Jimmy and Down's Folly both appear to have too much to do at the weights. The Henry Daly-trained Down's Folly won back-to-back races at Exeter and Doncaster during the winter but he was raised a stone for those victories and clearly found it too much last time out at Wincanton. Huckster represents the Venetia Williams yard. He was a beaten favourite at Sandown in heavy ground last time out but he has a chance based on his win in a Doncaster novices' hurdle last December. Lucky Do won two hurdle races at Newton Abbot last summer but does not look up to winning this. New Mischief gets the vote, then, in a tricky-looking handicap hurdle.
Gentleman Jimmy 25-1 (11-2) Prominent, headway 3 out, led last, quickened clear flat, easily, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft beating Rapscallion (11-2) by 4l, 18 ran.
Down's Folly (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 38l behind The Luder (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Abraham Smith 33-1 (10-11) Made all, mistake 5th, left clear last, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Proprioception (10-5) by 14l, 16 ran.
Huckster (ZIM) 10-3jt-fav (11-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 6, 6l behind Danse Macabre (10-7) at Sandown 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Double Dizzy 40-1 (9-11) Led 3rd, clear 4 out, ridden and fading 2 out, headed last, 3rd of 20, 9l behind Material World (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Naja De Billeron (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, headway 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 12th of 18, well behind Orcadian (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Lucky Do (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Never better than mid-division, 9th of 19, 24l behind Not Left Yet (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Nov.
Count Boris 25-1 (11-4) In touch until weakened soon after 2 out, 6th of 14, 22l behind Opera Mundi (10-7) at Folkestone 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Corals Laurel (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Keen and in touch, led 3 out until approaching last, beaten when fell at the last in race won by Dorneys Well (10-9) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
New Mischief (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) In touch, led between last 2, hard ridden flat, just held on, won at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd beating Zouave (10-4) by a shd, 16 ran.
Royal Stardust 14-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden after 3 out, hung left, weakened approaching last, 6th of 10, 13l behind Billyandi (11-2) at Haydock 2m nov hcp hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Astyanax (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Led to 3rd, not fluent 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 12, 18l behind She's Our Native (12-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f amt hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Finsbury Fred (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when jumped left last, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Kildonnan (11-4) at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Alf's Spinney 66-1 (11-3) In touch, hit 3rd, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Principe Azzurro (11-3) at Warwick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Kety Star (FR) 10-3fav (11-1) Pulled hard, held up, headway 4th, effort approaching 3 out, weakened rapidly soon after, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Amanpuri (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Thomo (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, upsides 4th, ridden approaching 7th, not much room soon after 3 out, one pace after left 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Time Bandit (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hdl (D) gf in Jun.
Dictator (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Jumped right throughout, never travelling in rear pulled up 5 out in race won by Crimson Pirate (11-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs (4) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Teorban (POL) 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden after 8th, weakened quickly, 11th of 12, 46l behind She's Our Native (12-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f amt hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
