tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, short of room against false rail towards finish, switched left and held
led 1st, jumped slightly right at times, headed after 3 out, weakened last
in touch until 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 5th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
tracked leaders, not fluent and led 2 out, stayed on well, pushed out towards finish
held up, not fluent 5th, well beaten 3 out, took 4th latter stages, tailed off
held up, carried out by loose horse 3rd
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, blundered next, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
led until 1st, prominent until ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
Short Supply found only Funky Munky too strong over C&D last month and appears to hold third Itstooearly on that run. But the handicapper has put him up 5lb for that effort so we'll take on the five-year-old with EXIT TO ANYWHERE. He spoiled his chance here last time by pulling much too hard and was a spent force entering the straight. This is a significant drop in grade, however, and he shouldn't be far away if settling better today. Stanley Bridge earns full marks for consistency and was third at Uttoxeter only last week. But he's creeping up the weights, despite not winning, while Mutanaker needs to improve again on his fourth at Hereford.
Short Supply (USA) 20-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, clear before next until last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Funky Munky (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Exit To Anywhere 6-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, led before 2nd, soon clear until before 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 19l behind Bob's Dream (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Middlebrook (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Led until 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, well behind Fairynuff (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Mutanaker 16-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 5th, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and weakened before next, 4th of 15, 13l behind Sustainability (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Itstooearly 11-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, some headway to go 5th before 2 out, kept on to take 4th before last, never on terms, 4th of 10, 12l behind Share Option (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) gs.
Stanley Bridge 10-3 (10-10) Held up, headway 4th, pecked next, challenged 3 out, ridden before next, stayed on same pace last, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Rigid (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-95) (3yo+) (5) sft.
Matilda's Folly (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, weakening when hampered 4 out, 14th of 15, well behind Hazy Tom (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Barello Road 100-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 14, 41l behind Alsahil (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Fred Grass 50-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Kalanisi Kid (10-5) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Long Range 250-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 12th of 14, well behind Alsahil (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
