held up in rear headway 4 out, chased leaders next, not fluent 2nd last, weakening when hampered and left in remote 2nd at last
chased leaders, lost action and pulled up before 3 out
prominent, every chance from 3 out, fell last
made all, strongly challenged from 3 out, left in clear lead at last, eased close home
held up in touch, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, rallied, kept on under pressure
behind, took keen hold, pushed along 4 out, staying on for remote 3rd when joined post
Point-to-point winner Quintero has run creditably in all three starts since joining Evan Williams and he has to be considered making his handicap debut off what looks a fair mark of 103 but it is hard to get away from SAMIZDAT, who can follow up his recent course and distance success and he gets the vote with the main danger rated as Twentynineblack. Don McCain's gelding looked useful in two starts in bumpers and has shown progressive form since being put over hurdles this term and he has to be respected on his handicap debut off what looks a fair mark of 108. Martin Todhunter's Prioryjo is more exposed than most of his rivals and is capable of taking a hand in the finish but he may be a shade high in the weights at present. Royal Flynn was well held at Newcastle last time and has yet to win a race over hurdles after 21 starts and a safer option looks to be Samizdat. Dianne Sayer's gelding has been running well of late and gained a deserved success when landing a handicap over course and distance last week, beating Jeronimo Joe by a neck. The 7lb penalty for that win does make this tougher for the seven-year-old but he is in good form and can score again.
Twentynineblack (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear and keen, headway after 3 out, every chance approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 16, 8l behind Good Old Thyme (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Claude Carter 25-1 (10-10) Behind when hampered 1st, mistake 3 out, headway into mid-division next, never near leaders, 6th of 16, 29l behind King O'the Gypsies (11-1) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Quintero (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon no impression, left poor 3rd last, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 12, 19l behind Horsford (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Samizdat (FR) 11-4fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge 3 out, led next, soon driven, kept on under pressure flat, just held on, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft beating Jeronimo Joe (11-1) by nk, 9 ran.
Prioryjo 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, faded approaching last, 5th of 9, 19l behind Cat Six (9-11) at Catterick 2m mrs nov hcp hdl (0-95) (5) gs.
Proficiency 28-1 (10-9) Towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 49l behind Nafaath (10-7) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gf.
Royal Flynn 5-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, soon in rear, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, 6th of 11, 6l behind Hi Dancer (11-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Danehill Silver 40-1 (11-0) Held up, weakened from 5th, 9th of 11, well behind Numero Due (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Sep '08.
