prominent, lost place 3 out, no impression from next
close up on outside, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression
in touch, lost place 8th, weakened 3 out
keen early, mid-division, headway and in touch 8th, effort 3 out, ridden next, stayed on well under pressure flat to dead heat post
tracked winner, reminders and lost place 8th, weakened 3 out
held up, headway 4 out, ridden and stayed on to chase leading pair, flat no impression
made all, ridden approaching last, hard pressed flat, kept on, joined post
in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, challenged 3 out, hit next, soon ridden and outpaced, lost 2nd and no extra flat
raced keenly, held up on inside, outpaced 2 out, never dangerous
behind, headway 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
Long Hop could be of interest on his reappearance with Alan King back among the winners but he looks a shade high in the weights and a better bet may be SIX DAY WAR, who gets the vote over Posh Emily. The Ron Hodges-trained mare won well here on good ground two starts ago and was not disgraced on a softer surface at Exeter subsequently so cannot be discounted but a 5lb rise since the latest of those runs means that she has to race off a career high mark now and she may be booked for a place at best. Kristoffersen would probably prefer faster ground, while Thedeboftheyear has yet to prove that she handles conditions as testing as this. Jeremy Scott's Dovedale is more than capable but is another that seems to be facing a hard battle with the handicapper, while Deep Pockets can hardly be backed with any confidence after his reappearance effort at Exeter. The vote then goes the way of Oliver Sherwood's Six Day War, who was well held on his recent return but should come on for that and, with ground conditions to suit, he looks worth backing.
Six Day War (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 7th, no chance 3 out, 6th of 7, 29l behind Rathcor (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Long Hop (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) In touch, ridden after 8th, weakened after 3 out, 16th of 17, well behind Picture This (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Dovedale 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 8th, chased leaders next, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 24l behind Easter Legend (11-12) at Ascot 2m 6f Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-125) (4yo+) (3) gd in Nov.
Thedeboftheyear 9-2 (11-0) Prominent, raced keenly, 2nd briefly 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Love of Tara (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gd in Oct, 14 ran.
Nougat de L'Isle (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, stumbled after 2nd, hit 6th, slipped up before next, in a race won by Lord Ragnar (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs in Nov, 24 ran.
Kristoffersen 11-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, stayed on approaching 2 out, never challenged leaders, 5th of 14, 7l behind Willies Way (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 17-2 (10-1) Jumped right and mistake 1st, rider lost iron, soon behind and not jumped well, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Gentle Ranger (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Drumbeater (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up, reminders approaching 6th, mistake next, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Scots Dragoon (10-11) at Ascot 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr '08.
Solitary Palm (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, hit 5th, struggling after 3 out, well beaten when jumped right and mistake last, 8th of 13, 24l behind Minnie Hill (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Posh Emily 4-1fav (10-11) Raced wide, held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4th, led 3 out, joined approaching last, headed soon after, no extra run-in, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Strategic Plan (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Youbetterbegood (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, behind from 4 out, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Jocheski (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov, 15 ran.
