Both BISHOPS HEIR and Hollins come into this Novice's Hurdle with a penalty to carry after success last time but with little opposition to them in the line-up they look the two to concentrate on with Bishops Heir landing the nod while Claude Carter looks best of the rest. A winner of a bumper on just his second start the selection built on that promise with a winning hurdles debut last time. He's less exposed than his main rival and we expect Jimmy Ewart's charge to improve again. Hollin's sets the standard in the line-up and is a useful enough benchmark. Micky Hammond's runner was relatively useful on the level and scored on his second start in this sphere last time. That was a comfortable success and he should be on the premises again. Claude Carter is yet to really build on a couple of solid runs in bumper company but in this field should be a leading player and with little else outside this trio make much appeal we side with Bishops Heir.
Bishops Heir 7-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, led 2 out, driven out, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov beating Carters Rest (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Hollins 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, left in lead 3 out, stayed on well, driven out, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Hey Charlie (10-11) by 10l, 14 ran.
Against The Wind 12-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, weakened approaching 2 out, last of 5, 23l behind Alvarado (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov.
Baileys Surprise (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up, effort over 6f out, kept on final 3f, 4th of 19, 17l behind Crackerjack Lad (11-4) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb '08.
Birnies Boy 28-1 (11-2) Close up, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 3rd of 4, well behind Turbo Island (10-10) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) sft in Mar.
Claude Carter 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression, 6th of 10, 27l behind Bygones Of Brid (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Eighteen Carat (IRE) 100-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, in touch, effort 2 out, one pace from last, 5th of 10, 20l behind Tara Royal (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Flaming Thistle (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Native Thistle.
Heart O' The West (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) In touch, lost place 4 out, 5th of 10, 16l behind Ascendant (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Marieschi (USA) 50-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened 3 out, 12th of 16, well behind Signalman (10-5) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov '08.
Short Straw (IRE) 250-1 (10-7) Always in rear, reminders 5th, lost touch 6th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Great Endeavour (11-8) at Towcester 2m 5f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) sft in Nov '08, 14 ran.
Simhal 100-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, 14th of 16, well behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-1) at Catterick 2m NH flat (5) gd in Dec '08.
Soneva Gili (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) Always behind, 11th of 12, 47l behind Inventor (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Uncle Michael 20-1 (11-0) Prominent to 3rd, behind from 6th, pulled up before next, in a race won by I'm Your Man (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Proficiency 50-1 (11-2) In touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 16, 28l behind Diklers Oscar (11-2) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
