tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden and looked awkward when 2nd briefly before 3 out, soon outpaced, well held 2 out, went 3rd after last, plugged on
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 7th, led before 2 out, all out
tracked leader until not fluent 7th, soon ridden, well held from 3 out
held up in touch in mid-division, bumped after 6th, soon weakened
held up in touch towards rear on outside, not fluent 6th, hit running rail and faltered briefly before next, closed well before 3 out, every chance when blundered 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, weakened flat
held up in touch in rear, not fluent 6th, headway next, well held from 3 out
led, not fluent 5th or 3 out, headed before 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on, just held
Doctor Phoenix won over 2m at Newcastle before finishing a close-up fourth when made favourite for a handicap at Ludlow over this trip. He could easily recoup losses here and makes more appeal than Ballyboker Breeze, who has been a shade disappointing since winning a weak race at Hexham in December. VERIPEK was a shade unlucky to be beaten a neck by Nightline on his hurdling debut at Southwell in December. The third won a handicap at Huntingdon earlier this month so the form is probably decent and Rebecca Curtis' former pointer can open his account here. Ffos Las runner-up Ballyrath is another with scope but French import Yala Enki is probably best watched on his first run over hurdles since May of last year.
Ballyboker Breeze (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led to 3rd, mistake 6 out and outpaced, headway before 3 out, staing on in 3rd when not fluent last, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Derrintogher Bliss (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Doctor Phoenix (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 3 out, headed 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish, 4th of 8, 2l behind Seaviper (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f (3) sft in Feb.
Ballyrath (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tended to jump right, led and soon clear, not fluent 2nd, reduced lead 4th, pushed along after 3 out, headed on long run before 2 out, one pace and no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Aigle De La See (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Feb.
League Of His Own (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Champagne Present (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Perform (IRE) King's Theatre gelding out of Famous Lady.
Uncle Tone (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, keen early, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression on leaders before next, 4th of 10, 8l behind Ustica (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Yala Enki (FR) (10-10) 3rd of 7, 10l behind As D'estruval (10-3) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 5f Listed chs (1) gd in Oct.
Howwrongcanyoube 14-1 (10-7) Held up, clipped heels and slipped up going out on final circuit, in a race won by Aso (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Veripek (FR) 8-11fav (11-0) Held up, headway before 5th, not fluent next, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd before next, 2 lengths down flat, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Nightline (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
