raced wide in last trio, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leader until after 5th, chased leading pair, mistake 3 out, kept on same pace from next
tracked leaders on outside, reminders before 5th, soon lost place, plugged on into modest 4th flat
led, ridden when went left and hit 3 out, soon driven along, headed before last, kept on same pace flat
took keen hold tracking leading pair, 2nd after 5th, every chance when went right 3 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened quickly
took keen hold tracking leaders, reminder before 5th, weakened after 5th, well beaten when tired fall 2 out
in rear, hit 2nd, struggling after 5th, tailed off
A modest contest in which ECHO FOXTROT is awarded the vote after his best hurdling effort to date last time when a decent runner-up behind Grand March here last month. He stayed on well that day and, with only half a dozen hurdle starts to his name, should have scope for further progression. Hollywood All Star, fourth in that aforementioned contest, is not weighted to reverse placings with the selection but should still get in the money. The interesting one and probably the main danger is Bus Named Desire. She's shown bits and pieces of form to suggest she could play a prominent role here, especially as connections reach for blinkers for the first time on the Alflora mare.
Palus San Marco (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders on outside, reminder before 3rd, lost place 5th, behind from 4 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Pass Muster (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov '13, 11 ran.
Hollywood All Star (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Led, jumped right at times, not fluent 5th, headed 3 out, 4th and one pace last, 4th of 10, 9l behind Grand March (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
It's Oscar (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up in 5th, headway tracking leaders 5th, 2nd at 7th, led 4 out until 3 out, soon ridden chasing leader, lost 2nd well before 2 out, no chance with leading pair, lost 3rd when went right 2 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 11, 40l behind Giveitachance (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Echo Foxtrot 22-1 (10-10) Prominent, led 3 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Grand March (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Bus Named Desire 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, slow 1st, under pressure 5th, hit 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 6, well behind Kalimantan (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) fm in Oct.
Nolecce 66-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway on outside before 3 out, ridden and no extra next, 5th of 10, 13l behind Grand March (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Love Tangle (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, jumped left and lost place 2nd, closed after 6th, no impression 3 out, jumped left 2 out, 4th of 9, 26l behind Drifter (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo clm hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Spessartine (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, bad mistake 1st, not fluent next, outpaced after 6th, well beaten before 3 out, last of 6, well behind Buywise (10-12) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.