held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden after next, weakened after 2 out
held up in mid-division, good headway to lead approaching 2 out, ridden and headed last, one pace
held up, headway 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
with leader, led 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, quickly weakened 2 out, soon pulled up
held up, weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up, pushed along after 4th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, lost place 6th, pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, outpaced and driven along after 4 out, headway after 3 out, hit and led last, driven clear flat
chased leaders until lost place 5th, hit next, soon weakened
A wide open handicap hurdle here and many would have chances on their best form but the principals look to be Turtle Soup, Claymore, Crazy Horse, and Carapuce and the tentative vote goes to Turtle Soup. The selection won well last time out when defeating Very Optimistic and although he is rising in the weights he again has conditions to suit and with his young claimer taking off a handy ten pounds he will be hard to beat. Claymore rates the main danger as he has been in fair form over fences of late and returns to hurdles on a fair mark his yard are in good form and he will not be far away. Crazy Horse is another that is well weighted on his best form and he was a fair fourth behind Middlethorpe last time out but he is becoming hard to win with and for that reason he is opposed. Carapuce is another that could go well but he just gave the impression the handicapper had caught up with him last time when fifth behind behind Jazz d'Estruval and he looks opposable on that basis. Of the remainder Knock Down is from a yard that is beginning to find its form so he is worth noting in the market but in a race that throws up more questions than answers for the winner we return to Turtle Soup.
