led, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace and no impression
held up in touch, one from 2 out, went 3rd after last no impression
held up towards rear, blundered 6th, headway 4 out, weakened from 2 out, hit last
tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden clear approaching last, driven out
held up in rear, pushed along 7th, soon struggling
tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out
MALLUSK won over hurdles after a long lay-off at this track last season but has always looked likely to prove better over fences and gets the vote as he reappears on a decent mark today. The Cockney Squire has struggled for form since joining Lucinda Russell but C&D winner Abey M'Boy is likely to run his race again, even though he couldn't justify favouritism off this mark at Plumpton last month. Northern Quest is usually thereabouts but Babe Heffron often needs a run to blow away the cobwebs and has been absent since May.
The Cockney Squire (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up in 4th, took keen hold, lost ground on rivals from 8th, tenderley handled from 4 out, went 3rd last, never near to challenge, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Kosta Brava (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Quintero (FR) 11-2 (11-7) Prominent, every chance from 3 out, fell last, in a race won by Samizdat (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar, 7 ran.
Abey M'Boy 5-2fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway on outer 9th, blundered next, chased leading pair from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Mister Stickler (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Mallusk (IRE) 13-8 (11-6) Led, jumped slighty left 1st, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Drumshambo (10-13) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Petrosian 20-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, jumped left 2nd, weakened after 5 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, 44l behind Sway (9-11) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Northern Quest (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Heavenly Chorus (11-0) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Babe Heffron (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Made most to before 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 9, 31l behind Ocarina (10-7) at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May.
