tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, every chance 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, fell last
keen, well behind 6th, tailed off and poor 4th when refused and unseated
tracked leaders and keen, led after 1st, joined and hit 3 out, headed 2 out, left in lead and kept on
towards rear, left 2nd last
held up, effort after 4 out, well beaten when left 3rd 2 out
led, headed after 1st, joined leader and mistake 3 out, narrow leader when fell 2 out
It's hard to look beyond Moon Mix and Celtic Spirit in this opening contest and clear preference is for the latter. Moon Mix won one of his three starts over hurdles for Dermot Weld and the gelding, a useful performer on the Flat, is an interesting recruit to John Jenkins's team but his penalty for that Limerick win won't make life easy. Celtic Spirit won three of his six starts on the level and should be all the better for his hurdling bow. He was never competitive that day but it was a warm contest and the winner, Deep Purple, was due to contest the Tolworth Hurdle on Saturday. This is a far more realistic assignment and Celtic Spirit can step up on that form and provide Gary Moore, the track's leading trainer, with another winner.
Moon Mix (FR) 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, smooth headway into close 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led travelling best after last, pushed out to assert close home, won at Limerick 2m mdn hdl gd in Nov beating Curragh Mountain (11-4) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Milton's Keen 33-1 (11-12) Always in rear, 10th of 14, well behind Fantasy Legend (10-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Sumdancer (NZ) 100-1 (11-0) In touch until 4th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Pasco (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Wee Alfie (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Latanier (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Tequila Sheila (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Prominent 5f, 8th of 11, 18l behind The Salwick Flyer (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) fbs in Dec (Flat).
Kavaloti (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 14, 24l behind Chance du Roy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Celtic Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up behind leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 31l behind Deep Purple (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec.
That's For Sure 3-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway and not fluent 5th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kilindini (11-3) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug '05, 10 ran.
