tracked leaders in 3rd, took closer order 7th, ridden to lead last, kept on well
tracked leader, led 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, one pace last
led to 7th, soon weakened, eased before 2 out
held up, headway to lead after 3 out, headed last, one pace
held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
The assessor has finally decided that, after four hurdles outings, KILSHANNIG is worth a mark of 90, and that can be used to his advantage with success here at the main expense of Cesium and She Is A Cracker. The selection won a Dundalk handicap over 1m 3f last year from an Irish flat mark of 70, so he really ought to be good enough to win a race of this nature. The sound surface won't be a problem, and this 2m 4f trip should be nigh-on ideal, so today looks the day for him. Cesium was thrashed in a heavy ground Chepstow handicap chase last time. Contrast the undulations there with this flat, easy track, good ground, a longer trip and hurdles, and you will appreciate that it is hard to be dogmatic about his chance here. However, the yard is certainly going well and in such lowly company a win for him would be no great shock. She Is A Cracker was miles behind on all four starts to date, and so Emma Lavelle now steps her up in trip and tries better ground, which may help her show some ability. Connections of Mistress Eva swap the visor for blinkers this time, but you'd be hard pressed to enthuse too much about her or Galley Slave and Kilshannig is selected.
Kilshannig (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Led, headed 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 12, 33l behind Thumbs Up (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cesium (FR) 4-1 (10-6) Held up, headway approaching 3rd, chased winner 4 out, ridden after 3 out, not fluent next no impression approaching last, 2nd of 7, 18l behind Carrickmines (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov.
Mistress Eva 66-1 (10-5) Prominent, mistake 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 13, 24l behind Calzaghe (11-8) at Kempton 2m Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (3yo+) (4) gs in Nov.
She Is A Cracker (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Led until after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 9, 34l behind Sparkling Montjeu (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f fll nov hdl (4yo) (4) sft in Mar.
Galley Slave (IRE) 28-1 (9-13) Keen, close up, chased leader 4th, led 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 12, 9l behind Weststern (10-6) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
