in touch, effort 3 out, one pace next
tracked leaders, blundered, dropped rear 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, weakened, halfway, soon lost touch
towards rear, headway halfway, went 2nd after 3 out, effort next, one pace run-in
tracked leaders, led 3rd, ridden 2 out, ran on strongly
led to 3rd, remained prominent until outpaced 3 out
in touch, close 3rd when mistake and unseated rider 5th
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, never dangerous
raced keen, held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
Compton Eclipse is capable of fair form on the level and bounced back to winning ways on the flat when successful at Wolverhampton in February but his hurdling ability is limited and a safer bet looks to be St Pancras, who is preferred to Humourous. The last mentioned was let go by Godolphin after just four starts on the level and has not shown enough in two outings at the winter game to suggest that "The boys in blue" should have held on to him so he is probably best watched. Top Tenor has failed to progress as much as anticipated, while Sams Lad is less exposed than most but needs to improve on all known evidence to trouble the judge. Paint The Lily has gone downhill on the flat and is hard to back with any confidence on his hurdling debut and a safer bet looks to be St Pancras, who was arguably the pick of these on the level and should have learned from his two previous starts over hurdles.
Compton Eclipse 50-1 (11-5) Led, headed 3 out, weakened from next, last of 5, 28l behind Bob Hall (11-8) at Navan 2m nov hdl sft in Jan.
Double Measure 16-1 (12-0) pulled up 3 out in race won by Sunny Ville (12-0) at Tyrella 3m ire ptp gd in Jan, 18 ran.
Just Good Friends (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) In touch to halfway, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Double Blade (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 1f clm hdl (F) gf in Oct '02, 11 ran.
Sams Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division, no impression from 4 out, 9th of 20, well behind Wheresben (11-5) at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Mar.
St Pancras (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Always behind, mistake last, never dangerous, 5th of 9, 28l behind Creinch (10-6) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Top Tenor (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 17, 47l behind Love That Benny (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Humourous (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Mistake 1st, mid-division, out paced 2 out, soon ridden, no impression, 4th of 10, 17l behind Macchiato (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Paint The Lily (IRE) 100-1 (9-0) Always behind, last of 9, well behind Hopeful Purchase (8-10) at Redcar 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gf in May (Flat).
