led, pecked and headed 4th, tracked leader, mistakes 16th and next, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
soon detached in rear, mistake 14th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in touch, outpaced 13th, no danger after
held up, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
chased leaders, headway to challenge 4 out, outpaced when mistake 2 out, soon ridden, rallied to lead briefly towards finish, no extra
tracked leader, led 4th, mistake 16th, ridden 2 out, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
held up in touch on outside, pushed along halfway, effort 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, rallied last, led towards finish
chased leaders, outpaced 15th, soon weakened
A trappy contest where there is probably more risk involved than most races on today's card and that is the case with HUCKLEBERRY, who gets the vote ahead of Moon Melody and Fourpointone. Donald McCain is not noted for first-time winners in handicap chases, which means caution is certainly advised, but he does have his runners in good shape and the seven-year-old Huckleberry stays well and acts on any ground with good in the description. He is slipping back to a reasonable mark again and we will tentatively give him the verdict. Moon Melody was doing all of his best work at the business end over a similar trip at Plumpton last time, and he acts on the ground, but he too is a very risky win proposition given just one success from 51 career starts. Fourpointone was in the process of staying on when falling at Ffos Las, and trip and ground will be ideal for him, so with Michael Scudamore's runners going well he'd have to be much respected today. Carnt Spell has won from higher marks than today's 70, but he is at his best when there is cut in the ground, while there are also concerns over Ya I Know. The others make similarly limited appeal and if you must have a bet then Huckleberry may be the right one.
Huckleberry (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, lost place 5th, soon behind, tailed off from 7th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Extra Bold (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Ya I Know (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Behind, mistake and hampered 6th, tailed off after, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Arceye (10-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in May, 16 ran.
Fourpointone 15-2 (11-9) Led until after 1st, pressed leader until 15th, rallied to go 2nd again after 4 out, 4 lengths down when fell heavily 3 out, in a race won by Illogical Hope (11-11) at Ffos Las 3m 1f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Moon Melody (GER) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, hit 2nd, went 3rd 10th, 15 lengths down 3 out, closed 2 out, soon hung left, went 3 lengths 2nd last, no impression flat, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Kisha King (11-3) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 50-1 (10-9) Prominent, struggling after 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 9l behind Wychwoods Legend (10-9) at Huntingdon 3m noc chs (3) gs.
Carnt Spell 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 13, 24l behind Classic Clover (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Oct.
Overton Lad 11-1 (10-7) Mid-division, reminder after 2nd, dropped rear when mistake 12th, soon back in touch, close 3rd when blundered badly 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Jacarado (10-13) at Towcester 3m hcp 0-90 (5) gf in Oct.
The Walnut Tree (IRE) 66-1 (9-8) In rear, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 9, 16l behind BallyGalley Bob (11-2) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
