in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from 2 out
always prominent, led 3 out, clear approaching last, kept on
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, weakened
in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
led and keen, hit 3rd, headed 4th, led again 6th, headed 3 out and weakened
held up towards rear, headway on outside 6th, hampered 3 out, chased winner from 2 out, mistake last, ran on flat
mid-division and keen, headway 4th, led briefly 5th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, soon well behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, every chance when fell 3 out
never a factor
in rear, ridden and some headway 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, led 4th, headed next, weakened quickly 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Nonrunner
Zeloso goes well over this trip and on soft ground and may be capable of defying a rise to score in what is a poor contest, with Paddy Boy, Road King and The Small Farmer other possibles. The selection was unlucky last time, so we don't know how he would have coped with a 10lb hike for landing a selling handicap hurdle over 2m 2f at Folkestone last month. However, he did win with something in hand that day, and with conditions again suiting him we will play to small stakes. Paddy Boy is in form, having won on good to soft at Folkestone himself in November, before a 8lb rise found him out at Huntingdon on Boxing Day. The trip will suit him, though he is unproven on genuinely soft ground and that, combined with his exposed look, means we will oppose. Road King is a one-paced old-timer who is still a maiden at 12 and was beaten by the selection at Market Rasen last month. He will struggle to win, but may make the frame. The same applies to The Small Farmer, who returns to racing under rules after doing well in points. As such he is a bit of an unknown quantity but he'll have to improve on his old hurdles form to win this, and instead we prefer Zeloso to return to the winner's enclosure.
Bustisu 25-1 (9-13) Always behind, 10th of 15, well behind Moustique de L'Isle (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec.
Zeloso 4-1fav (9-7) Held up, effort when hampered and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Star Member (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Bonnell (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Led, headed 5th, chased leader in 2nd after, weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, 41l behind Ballito (10-10) at Thurles 2m 6f nov hcp hdl gs in Dec.
Ireland's Eye (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Hampered 1st, mid-division, pushed along after 6th, no impression when, 7th of 12, 43l behind Compo (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hdl 0-90 (F) hvy in Dec.
Breezer 14-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 11th of 16, 47l behind True Mariner (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
Paddy Boy (IRE) 7-2fav (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden and led approaching 2 out, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind True Mariner (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
Road King (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Led, headed after 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Piran (10-8) at Warwick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl (F) sft in Dec.
Astronaut 16-1 (10-0) Mid-division, pulled along 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 13, 50l behind Chickapeakray (9-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
