held up, headway 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, led 3rd, clear 2 out, ran on well
led to 3rd, with winner, ridden after 3 out, no impression approaching 2 out
chased leaders until slipped on landing and unseated rider 3rd
raced keenly, held up, hampered and unseated rider 3rd
held up, hampered 3rd, headway approaching next, ridden after 5th, weakened quickly after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, in rear when jumped slowly 4th and 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
Scotland Yard can make a winning debut over timber at the expense of fellow newcomer Salesin, with Ace Baby and Risk Runner also worth a mention. Scotland Yard was successful twice on the Flat for Mark Johnston and looks just the sort to make up into a decent juvenile hurdler. He is with the right stable now, but the only negative would be his ability to handle soft ground. If he does, then a big run is on the cards. Salesin was a stayer on the Flat, and with that in mind it could well be that he will need further over hurdles, while of those to have already been out over timber, Ace Baby lost no caste in defeat behind the useful Marodima at Chepstow. Risk Runner can only improve on his Chepstow second, although that form may not amount to much, and Pukka Tique will do well to defy a penalty. Without being too confident, we return to Scotland Yard as the answer.
Ace Baby 20-1 (10-9) Held up, headway to chase winner approaching 5th, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Marodima (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Darusso 14-1 (9-1) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, 8l behind Dyanita (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct (Flat).
Ivans Ride (IRE) 15-2 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 14l behind Speagle (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
Risk Runner (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Held up, headway 6th, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Faucon Bleu (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Salesin 17-2 (9-6) Never better than mid-division, 12th of 16, 21l behind Tees Components (10-0) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sept (Flat).
Scotland Yard (UAE) 7-4 (8-7) Led 1f, tracked leader, switched wide over 4f out, switched inside and effort 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Nihal (8-5) at York 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul (Flat).
Shake The Spear (IRE) 200-1 (9-3) Led, headed over 6f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 11, well behind Raucous (9-3) at Ripon 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gd in Aug (Flat).
Zacharova (IRE) 11-1 (8-2) Soon led, headed over 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 23, 7l behind Bush Maiden (9-2) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Jul (Flat).
Gouranga 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, 7th of 15, 15l behind Serramanna (8-9) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sept (Flat).
Pukka Tique 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and outpaced next, hit 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Nov beating Decree Nisi (10-7) by 3l, 11 ran.
