held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway to lead 3 out, driven out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, kept on from last
held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, weakened flat
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
close up, led 2nd, headed 3 out, weakening when unseated rider 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
led, headed 2nd, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders and keen, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
held up, effort approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up mid-division, ridden and lost place approaching 3 out, soon tailed off and pulled up
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on from last
The majority of the field are unexposed but WESTSTERN is heading in the right direction and is suggested ahead of Coeur De Fou and Troubletimestwo. The Southern raider has taken some time to get the hang of hurdling and his recent success was just his second in seventeen attempts but he had gone close prior to that and finally looks to be heading in the right direction. Coeur De Fou ran on strongly to narrowly miss out in a Cheltenham handicap for which he's only been raised by 3lbs. That was his most encouraging performance since debut and he should go close if he can build on that. Troubletimestwo is due to race from a higher mark in future having finished close up in a falsely run race at Sandown but his form is working out relatively well and the performance may not flatter him. Helieorbea is also ahead of the assessor and may be better suited by this galloping track whilst Ishismart has run well over hurdles the last twice and can't be left out of calculations. A good number of these are open to improvement but there's less guesswork involved in siding with the more exposed Weststern.
Cocoa Key (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 16, 18l behind Quantitativeeasing (11-0) at Newcastle 2m NH Maiden Hurdle (4-6yo) (5) gs in Nov.
Vincenzio (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 7th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 7th of 9, 36l behind Zabeel Palace (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Stagecoach Pearl 7-1 (11-2) Led, clear approaching 2nd, hit 5th, ridden after 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 12, 16l behind Skylancer (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Sadler's Star (GER) 2-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 5, 7l behind Classic Chic (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f 4yo clm hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Coeur De Fou (FR) 25-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden and hit 3 out, headway approaching last, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Zafranagar (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Points of View 14-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, held up towards rear, struggling 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 10, 26l behind Sereth (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Latin Scholar (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, jumped slowly throughout, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 19l behind Simply Blue (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Weststern (GER) 7-2fav (10-6) Held up in touch, good headway to chase leader 2 out, ridden to lead last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov beating Chalice Welcome (10-3) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Abstract Folly (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden 11th, well behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Tell Henry (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Nov '08, 9 ran.
Midnite Blews (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, well behind Washington Irving (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Ishismart 9-2 (11-4) Prominent, led after 3rd, blundered 4 out, ridden and mistake last, headed close home, 2nd of 7, hd behind Manjam (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Bocciani (GER) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 13, 6l behind High Stand Lad (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Helieorbea 8-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Shinnecock Bay 25-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened before last, 9th of 13, 25l behind Calzaghe (11-8) at Kempton 2m Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (3yo+) (4) gs in Nov.
Grand Article (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened soon after 6th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Ready To Crown (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Montiyra (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leader, moderate 2nd halfway, dropped to 3rd approaching 4 out, ridden in 5th and no extra 3 out, soon weakened, 14th of 20, well behind The God Of Love (11-12) at Tipperary 2m mdn hdl gf in Jun '08.
Ana Buachaill Dana 66-1 (10-12) Always behind, not fluent, mistake 4th, no chance when slightly hampered 3 out, 11th of 12, well behind Menorah (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Troubletimestwo (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 4th, soon headed, led approaching 2 out, headed before last, weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Spunk (11-0) at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) sft.
