chased leader and clear over rest, well led 3 out, weakened approaching next
chased clear leading pair, close when mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on from last to press for 3rd from finish, no chance with front pair
led and soon clear with one rival, pushed along after 3 out, driven and joined 2 out, headed approaching last, rallied gamely near finish but always just held
close up in 4th, not fluent 3rd, under pressure after 3 out, soon beaten
raced wide, took keen hold early, held up last, smooth headway and closed to track leading pair when mistake 3 out, challenged next, shaken up the lead approaching last, driven run-in to hold on near finish, all out
keen hold early, held up in 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
Tarlac is taken to lead them home in this handicap hurdle with Lord Henry and Lunar Crystal the main dangers. The selection hails from a yard in good form and he won in impressive fashion when beating Toparudi at Folkestone last time. That win came on soft ground so he should have no problems with the ground today and he looks the one to beat. Lord Henry has got to be of interest here but he hasn't been seen on a racecourse for 464 days and he is also unproven on this ground so for those reasons we are happy to watch him today. Lunar Crystal was returning from a long break when second behind Noble Request at Wincanton last time. That was a good effort but he was given quite a hard race that day and there is a possibility that he could bounce. Enhancer is a fair sort and is another with place prospects on ground that he handles, but for the winner we will stick with Tarlac.
Lord Henry (IRE) 1-2fav (11-6) Made all, set steady pace, shaken up and went clear after 4th, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Nov '04 beating Harry Blade (11-0) by 15l, 6 ran.
Enhancer 28-1 (11-1) Held up, effort 3 out, no impression, 7th of 15, 32l behind Hoh Viss (10-11) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Lunar Crystal (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led, shaken up 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Noble Request (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Guru 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, chased winner 9th to 4 out, outpaced next, 3rd of 5, 16l behind My World (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Tarlac (GER) 5-6fav (11-4) Led after 2nd, in command when hit last, ridden clear run-in, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Toparudi (11-4) by 6l, 15 ran.
Aldiruos (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on under pressure to chase winner next, ridden 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Supreme Leisure (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
