held up in rear, collidied with running rail on bend after 1st, jockey unbalanced and lost iron briefly, effort approaching 5th, soon beaten, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, 3rd and beaten last
mid-division, no impression 3 out, eased flat
towards rear, effort 4th, weakened 3 out, hit last
held up in rear, headway after 4th, beaten last
chased leaders, mistakes, weakened after 4th, tailed off
soon led, headed 3 out, beaten last
led early, tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden clear approaching last, ran on well
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
MOUNTSKIP can defy a penalty and topweight to follow-up his recent Hexham win, with Pinewood Legend, Ardesia and Royal Flynn likely to get involved. The selection was the ready winner of a novices' handicap hurdle at the Northumberland track, winning by 11-lengths, for which he carries a 7lbs penalty. Trip and ground are again ideal for him and he will be tough to beat. Pinewood Legend has gone well here twice in defeat and with the ground again appearing to be against him it looks like the same fate may befall him, while Ardesia has conditions and trip to suit and is on a very handy mark when considering some of his old form. However, recent efforts suggest that this is now as good as he is and we will take him on. Royal Flynn wouldn't be at his best on fast ground and may have to settle for plugging on into the frame, while the same applies to Knight Valiant, and preference is for Mountskip.
Mountskip 7-4fav (10-10) Held up mid-division, went 4th approaching 3 out, led and hit last, soon quickened, readily, won at Hexham 2m Am nov hcp hdl (5) gf beating Little Wizard (11-7) by 11l, 10 ran.
Pinewood Legend (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up, mistake 4th, headway when not fluent 3 out, hit next, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no chance for 1st 2, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Turbo Shandy (10-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Aug.
Royal Flynn 10-3 (10-8) Behind, took keen hold, pushed along 4 out, staying on for remote 3rd when joined post, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Samizdat (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Temple Place (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th on outer, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 12, 40l behind Shropshirelass (10-9) at Stratford 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
Danehill Silver 40-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, blundered 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Mountskip (10-10) at Hexham 2m Am nov hcp hdl (5) gf, 10 ran.
Knight Valliant 8-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out to track leaders in 5th, pushed along to chase leading pair from 2 out, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Pugnacity (10-1) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
The Sheepdipper 100-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, bumped 8th, mistake next, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Cool Mission (11-11) at Perth 3m hdl (4) gf.
Hernando Cortes 7-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, hit 2nd, soon in rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, tailed off next, 6th of 10, well behind Mountskip (10-10) at Hexham 2m Am nov hcp hdl (5) gf.
Ardesia (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Held up towards rear, join leaders on outer 6th, soon chasing winner, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Mister Pete (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
Devils Delight (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Soon tracked leaders, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 22l behind Overbranch (10-4) at Hexham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Crystal Runner 18-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, weakened 5th, tailed off 2 out, 8th of 11, well behind Overbranch (10-4) at Hexham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Saddlers' Supreme (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear and keen, headway approaching 2 out, challenging and a close 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Solis (11-7) at Perth 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf, 8 ran.
Everaard (USA) 40-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 11, 37l behind Barron Watlass (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
