chased leaders, mistake 3rd, blundered 2 out, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, switched left before last, kept on
led and keen, soon clear until 4 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner
held up in touch, went 2nd before 3 out, led before last, kept on strongly
in rear, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, weakened before 2 out
tracked leader until before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, effort 2 out, soon weakened
always behind, jumped badly left 3 out, soon tailed off
This looks tricky with Flat winner Innocent Touch penalised for a narrow victory at Musselburgh. Baltic Storm was also decent on the level but looked a weak finisher when only second at Plumpton. Iniciar, another winner on the Flat, made late headway on his hurdling debut at Taunton but that was over 2m3f and it's not certain the drop in distance here will suit. HOLLY BUSH HENRY was very disappointing over further at Market Rasen in August but is possibly worth another chance over this trip on an earlier second at Southwell.
Innocent Touch (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leader until after 4 out, 2nd again going well before 2 out, led approaching last, kept on gamely run-in to assert near finish, won at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Nov beating Winter Lion (11-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Baltic Storm (IRE) 4-1fav (11-0) Took keen hold, chased leaders, 2nd 2 out, driven and stayed on run-in, always held, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Itsnowcato (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov.
Deadly Approach 8-1 (9-5) Headway to lead over 7f out, ridden 3f out, soon headed, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 10, 15 1/2l behind Fun Mac (9-5) at Haydock 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gs in Oct.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Mid-division, tracked leaders 2 out, soon ridden, one pace last, no impression flat, 6th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Mr Selby (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) gd in Aug.
Iniciar (GER) 6-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, never on terms, outpaced 2 out, not fluent last, no extra flat, 5th of 12, 14l behind Modus (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (3) gd in Nov.
King Simba (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st or 2nd, 3rd and one pace when slightly wide on home turn, well held when not fluent last, lost 3rd flat, 6th of 8, 19l behind Aqua Dude (10-12) at Southwell 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Mr Kit Cat 10-1 (11-0) Hampered and unseated rider 1st, at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gd in Oct.
Spifer (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden on outside over 2f out, no impression, 9th of 10, 14 1/4l behind No Backchat (8-13) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Zakety Zak 33-1 (10-12) Towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 19 3/4l behind Banks O' Houxty (11-2) at Kelso 2m (5) gd in May.
