disputed lead, hit 5th, led narrowly approaching 2 out, headed and outpaced between last two, no chance with easy winner
held up in close 4th and always travelling well, 3rd 5th, 2nd 2 out, quickened to lead between last 2, soon clear, shaken up run-in, eased final 50 yards
raced keenly, disputed lead, mistake 3 out, narrowly headed when blundered and lost 2nd 2 out, no chance after, plugged on
tracked leading pair until 5th, weakening when not fluent next, tailed off
Nonrunner
Late Night Lily has won a couple of novice hurdles recently and has to come into the reckoning on her handicap debut. But MIDTECH VALENTINE also bids for a hat-trick having landed a couple of handicaps last month and Ian Williams’ mare is taken to defy a further 3lb rise. May Hay recorded a double at Stratford during the summer but has struggled subsequently while One Big Love has been thereabouts in novice events but returns to action today. Blue Court looks up against it.
May Hay 9-2 (11-12) Led, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Late Night Lily 11-8fav (11-5) Held up in rear, took keen hold, took closer order before 4 out, not clear run after next, every chance 2 out, soon led, hard ridden closing stages, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct beating Voice Control (10-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
One Big Love 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, jumped left and not fluent 5th, led 3 out, headed before next, led again when not fluent last, headed flat, held after, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Miss Serious (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gs in May.
Blue Court (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, pressing for 2nd before 3 out, one pace 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Tara View (11-2) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Midtech Valentine 4-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, led 2 out, clear when went left last, driven and pressed run-in, stayed on gamely and asserted last 100 yards, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Un Prophete (10-1) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.