held up in rear, headway from 3 out, no impression from next
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on towards finish
chased leaders, weakened from 2 out, pulled up before last
held up, weakened from 6th
held up in touch, weakened from 3 out
chased leaders, weakened from 3 out
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
held up, chased leaders approaching 2 out, weakened last
held up mid-division, went 2nd going to 2 out, led last, kept on under pressure
held up, weakened 3 out
chased leader, wandered approaching 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up, weakened from 3 out
The form shown by TRUCKERS HALL in defeat looks stronger than that of the penalised runners, so he's given a chance to show it from Barafundle and Hold Fast. Tom George's recruit ran well behind Possol in a good looking novice hurdle on his second start for connections and this slight drop in trip can help him gain his first success under rules, with ground conditions ideal. His rating of 127 seems fair on the balance of his form and it sets a standard that the others may not be able to match. Barafundle won on his debut over timber, a performance that backed up some strong bumper form, so he rates the biggest danger to our pick despite the fact he carries a penalty. He has the speed to cope with the drop back in trip and should go well in his bid to rack up a hat-trick of wins. Hold Fast is another runner who carries a penalty for what was a stout staying performance last time, so we can expect Howard Johnson's charge to set the fractions. He might just struggle for toe here though and we prefer to look elsewhere this time. Very Edgy got close enough to one of the top novice hurdlers when fourth on his debut to merit respect, although our feeling is he'll need to improve further to trouble the principles in what isn't a bad little race, as might Empty Sky whose form so far is some way behind our selection's, although the yard continues in good form. Pyracantha brings solid bumper form to the table and warrants a market check but in the absence of that we'll leave him alone this time with an eye on the future, but he's by far the most interesting of the rest with Danny John Boy having shown little on his sole start and Gunpoint appearing moderate at best. Knight In Purple has questions to answer having been pulled up when last seen and Archie's Wish is a newcomer who makes precious little appeal on paper, so we'll return to the form claims of Truckers Hall.
Barafundle (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, in command when wandered last, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Brimley (10-9) by 7l, 13 ran.
Empty Sky 9-1 (11-7) Led, hung right and headed after 2 out, soon weakened, hit last, 8th of 10, 41l behind Radium (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Hold Fast (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Made all, stayed on well from last, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov beating Meath All Star (11-0) by 6l, 12 ran.
Danny John Boy 66-1 (11-5) Mid-division, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 10, 42l behind Bygones Of Brid (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Direct Approach (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 7th, soon weakened, 8th of 9, well behind Pokanoket (9-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Gunpoint (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, lost place 4th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 10, well behind Tara Royal (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Knight In Purple 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 6th, losing touch when not fluent next, hanging left after 8th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Phidippides (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f hdl (3) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Pyracantha 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Nov beating Full Of Joy (10-11) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Qollioure (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Held up, chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Kellystown Lad (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Truckers Hall (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in touch and keen, led approaching 5th, under pressure 3 out, joined 2 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Possol (11-4) at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Zero Six Zoo (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Led to 5th, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 10, 34l behind Tara Royal (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Cosmetic 50-1 (10-5) Held up, some headway 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 12, 36l behind Milans Man (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Zoenicibel 200-1 (10-11) In touch chasing group, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 36l behind Gifted Leader (11-4) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Archie's Wish Beat All gelding out of Marlands.
Very Edgy (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Chased leader until ridden and weakened soon after 2 out, 4th of 18, 20l behind Salden Licht (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
