in touch and keen hold, pulled way through to lead after 5th, headed approaching 8th weakened 3 out
held up, headway 6th to track leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, pulled up soon after
hung left throughout, held up tracking leaders, lost place 5th, outpaced from 7th, ridden 3 out, rallied and stayed on flat
held up, mistake 4th, headway approaching 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leader, ridden and every chance 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out
led, headed after 5th, weakening when fell 7th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 8th, ridden 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on well ridden out
A small field goes to post for this maiden hurdle and on paper it looks a match between Time To Reflect and Lord Earth and we will take a chance on the last named. The gelding from the Paul Nicholls yard won a bumper last time out when defeating Viciana. He is sure to have been well schooled for this his hurdling debut and with conditions in his favour he will be hard to beat. Time To Reflect rates the main danger he was a good third behind Widemouth Bay last time and that form looks rock solid he will not be far away. Desert Spa won at up to 12 furlongs on the flat but he may be suited by a longer trip than this over hurdles so he is opposed. Of the remainder Keepers Mead showed a modicum of ability last season and could run into a place but he needs to improve again to trouble the principals so we are happy to side with Lord Earth.
