held up in 4th, not fluent, closed 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led 100 yards out, driven out
led 1st, stepped at 7th, ridden approaching last, headed 100 yards out, stayed on
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, mistake 3 out, weakened and mistake 2 out, mistake last
not fluent, raced in last, lost touch 7th, tailed off
led until 1st, pressed leader until 7th, remained close up, weakened 2 out, blundered last
There may only be six runners in this novices' hurdle but four of them won last time including Rebel Hunter, who was successful in a point-to-point but this looks tougher for him and a better bet looks to be NODFORMS VIOLET, who is preferred to Solway Sam. The last mentioned has now won his last two outings, latterly in a novices' hurdle at Hexham when drawing clear on the run-in, but he does have a double penalty to carry and may struggle to give weight away all round. Peter Bowen's Lamboro Lad looks to be going the right way following his win in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter last month but he faces no easy task in this company and of more interest may be Niceonefrankie. After several promising efforts, the Venetia Williams-trained gelding gained a deserved first success when landing a maiden hurdle at Towcester last month and he has claims but preference is for Nodforms Violet. Karen McLintock's gelding showed a decent level of form in four starts in bumpers and made a promising first start over hurdles when seemingly not staying three miles behind Possol at Doncaster when last seen in December and he looks worth siding with dropped in trip and receiving weight from his main rivals.
Solway Sam 7-4 (11-5) Tracked leader virtualy throughout, led before last, ridden and stayed on well to go clear flat (no time taken), won at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Patriot (10-12) by 12l, 10 ran.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 11-8fav (10-9) Pressed leader, led 4th, mistake 7th, clear when hit last, eased flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in May beating Chesapeake (11-0) by 9l, 14 ran.
Niceonefrankie 3-1 (10-10) Prominent, led after 2nd, mistake 3 out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in May beating Scene Two (10-10) by 9l, 11 ran.
Be Ashored 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent and reminder 6th, modest progess approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Lamboro Lad (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
Nodforms Violet (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, went 2nd 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Possol (11-4) at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Rebel Hunter (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Rr mid div, cl en 7th 6out, gng well 4out & further prog 3out, faster jump & ld 2out, sow, won at Dawstown 3m ire ptp gd in May beating Why Are You Asking (12-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
