HATTONS HILL is viewed as a Hexham specialist but he was in the process of running a better race here at the start of the month when falling two out. He’s well treated on past form and could be the value in this. Achill Road Boy has a penalty for winning easily at Kelso 11 days ago but is by no means badly handicapped and a repeat is not out of the question, though it’s interesting that Danny Cook has been booked for stablemate Graystown who is unexposed over fences. Lough Salt is becoming a regular here and was beaten under a length over course and distance last time while Irish raider Sweet Destination can’t be ignored but Follow The Swallow and Knocknamona remain hard to place.
Lough Salt (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) Held up in touch, mistake 13th, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, every chance after last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind My Old Gold (11-4) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Sweet Destination (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, ridden and no extra after 2 out, left moderate 7th and badly hampered last, 7th of 11, dist behind Speaker Connolly (11-8) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp gd in Dec.
Talkofgold (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 13th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Little Bruce (11-1) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Follow The Swallow (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, not fluent 6th, headway 14th, challenged 3 out, not fluent 2 out, every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Mistress Massini (10-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Knocknamona (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, driven after 4 out, went modest 4th before 2 out, kept on same pace, never threatened leaders, 4th of 6, 29l behind Eureu Du Boulay (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Achill Road Boy (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, left 2nd at 8th, poised to challenge before 2 out (usual 4 out), led when hit last (usual 3 out), drew clear bypassing omitted 2 out, in no danger after, easily, (both fences in home straight omitted, low sun), won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Golden Investment (11-5) by 18l, 5 ran.
Graystown (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost place 5th, not fluent next, mistake 11th, closed 12th, blundered 15th, lost place 4 out, 6th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Moving In Style (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Aero Majestic (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) (bl) led til jmpd v slow 1; led 4; ducked out nxt, at Dingley 3m mdn gd in May.
Hattons Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leader 10th, ridden to challenge 3 out, fell next, at Wetherby 3m 3f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Johnny Yuma (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders before 11th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms with leaders after, 5th of 9, 32 3/4l behind Arthur's Reuben (10-9) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
