held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 7th, challenging when not fluent 2 out, mistake last, lost 2nd and held towards finish
led until 7th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat
tracked leader, led 7th, headed before 2 out, rallied flat, went 2nd towards finish
held up in touch, towards rear, not fluent 6th, outpaced next, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, ridden after 3 out, outpaced before next, stayed on flat
tracked leaders on outside, challenged after 7th, led before 2 out, held on gamely
held up in touch towards rear, pushed along when jumped left 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
It's very rare to find a three-year-old in a handicap hurdle but Brian Ellison must believe Come On Sunshine, a dual winner in his own age group, is well enough handicapped to make his presence felt. Volt Face won a bumper here on his debut and a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot in April before being outclassed in a better race at Cheltenham. PHOENIX RETURNS went up 7lb for landing a similar grade handicap to this at Hexham then found only One For Harry too strong when stepping up slightly in class at Carlisle. Alan Swinbank's charge can take this, though anything Venetia Williams saddles at the moment has to be respected and King Of Glory has more potential than most of these.
Volt Face (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, ridden and well beaten after 2 out, 11th of 14, 42l behind Brother Brian (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Toby Lerone (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Led until after 4th, chased leaders, lost place before 5 out, 8th of 14, 48l behind Sound Investment (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs.
Phoenix Returns (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) In touch, went prominent 4th, ridden and every chance 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 9l behind One For Harry (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft.
Family Motto 16-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair, 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, 3rd and one pace flat, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Wizards Bridge (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy.
King Of Glory 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened next, lost 3rd last, 4th of 10, 26l behind Flying Eagle (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Cafe Au Lait (GER) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4th, weakened from next, 5th of 7, 30l behind Dormouse (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy.
Come On Sunshine 3-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, pushed along after 4 out, went 3rd before last, one pace, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Full Day (10-11) at Wetherby 2m Listed hdl 3yo (1) gd in Oct.
Experimentalist 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out until soon after 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Minellahalfcentury (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
