held up, smooth headway to lead 4 out, soon clear easy
keen, headway 4 out, tracked clear winner from next, soon beaten
tracked leaders and keen, weakened 4 out
with leader, reminders 2nd, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 3rd, weakened 4 out
led, driven after 4th, headed 4 out, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, plugged on, no chance with winner
DONTPAYTHEFERRYMAN may not be a world-beater but he does know how to get his head in front and is selected here ahead of Elbistan and Perlon. With some shrewd trainers saddling horses here, it will pay to check the betting before placing bets. David Evans saddles the selection, who has won two of his last three starts, with the most recent success coming at Ludlow. He has since suffered some defeats on the all-weather but back over hurdles he is taken to oblige. He finished in-front of Elbistan when they last clashed, and the latter is just 1lb better off at the weights today. Perlon represents shrewd connections and the horse is quickly dropped in grade. He wasn't disgraced behind the high-class Starluck at Kempton and he is not one to take on lightly. Sherbert Lemon is another horse who is dropped in class and has been put in at a realistic price. At a price Monkhair could run into a place, but this looks a four-horse race with Dontpaytheferryman coming out on top.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 8-11fav (11-4) In touch, headway after 5th, driven to lead 3 out, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Elbistan (10-9) by 3l, 11 ran.
Perlon (FR) 40-1 (11-5) Led at decent pace, clear 2nd, headed after 3 out, weakened quickly, 6th of 10, 30l behind Starluck (11-8) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Dec.
Emerald Crystal (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) In touch, jumped left 4th, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Stow (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Honest Yankee (USA) 150-1 (10-5) Always rear, tailed off, 12th of 17, well behind Higgy's Boy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Slayer 150-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and weakened 4th, went poor 3rd last, 3rd of 8, well behind Pepite De Soleil (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Monkhair (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Held up in rear, headway on outside after 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd early run-in, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Ruby Crown (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (4) gs.
Ericarrow (IRE) 80-1 (10-5) Prominent, led 4th, headed 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Dontpaytheferryman (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Sherbet Lemon 6-1 (10-8) Prominent, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 13, 16l behind Purely By Chance (10-8) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Elbistan (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, close up 2nd 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Dontpaytheferryman (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Miss Phoebe (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Mistakes, chased leaders, weakened well before 3 out, 11th of 13, well behind Zaynar (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
