held up, headway 3 out, never on terms
held up, driven along 7th, chased leaders 3 out, ran on
held up in touch, struggling 8th, mistake 9th, soon pulled up
held up, headway 10th, soon ridden and weakened
led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, driven to lead before 2 out, soon clear, hung right and held on under pressure closing stages
tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, weakened after 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out
New Perk, Chickapeakray and In The Hat look the three to concentrate on in this handicap hurdle and the vote is given to New Perk. The selection has won his last two races in good style and although he is rising in the weights he still looks ahead of the handicapper. Under his optimum conditions here he is taken to win again. Chickapeakray rates the main danger as he also won well last time out when beating Zaffaran Express but this looks tougher and he may struggle under his penalty. In The Hat is another last-time-out winner that could go well but he will need to improve again to win off this higher mark and at likely odds he looks worth opposing. Of the remainder True Mariner is from a yard in form and is another that could go well but he will do well to give weight and a beating to New Perk who looks the one to be on.
True Mariner (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out driven to lead flat, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec beating Paddy Boy (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Siegfrieds Night (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 15, 20l behind Star Member (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Dec.
Commanche General (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Prominent to 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by His Nibs (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Nov '03, 7 ran.
In The Hat (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up, ridden approaching 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, chased leader 2 out, stayed on to lead flat, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov beating Prayerful (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Chickapeakray 9-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden out, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec beating Zaffaran Express (11-4) by 1l, 13 ran.
New Perk (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Dec beating Kyno (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Weldiva 50-1 (10-4) Soon behind, 8th of 12, well behind Barton Gate (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (G) hvy in Dec.
