towards rear, headway before 7th, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, pushed along before last, soon clear
behind, headway after 3 out, went poor 3rd after 2 out, one pace
held up mid-division, weakened before 7th, tailed off
close up, led 7th, headed 2 out, one pace and no chance with winner
tracked leaders, hampered 6th, soon outpaced, never dangerous
mid-division, jumped slow and left 7th, soon weakened
held up in touch, lost place from 5th, tailed off 6th
Joseph Mercer was the lesser fancied of Philip Hobbs' two runners in a Newton Abbot novices' hurdle last month but, after his odds-on stablemate fell, was the only one to make a race of it with second favourite Jump City. He appears to be learning with experience but is nothing special so we are going to give one final chance to MONTURGEON. It's disappointing that Alan King's charge hasn't managed a win yet over timber but he simply lacks an extra gear. This, however, won't take much winning. Parhelion, second in two of his three starts over hurdles, and the oft-placed Billy Merriott can also make life interesting, though the latter hasn't raced since falling at Wincanton in January.
Billy Merriott (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and beaten in 6th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Shuil Royale (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Duneen Dream (USA) 33-1 (10-11) In rear, mistake 3rd, detahced when mistake next, soon hanging right, 7th of 11, 39l behind Calaficial (10-11) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep '09.
Likearollingstone (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 17, 49l behind Mount Benbulben (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f Maiden Hurdle (5-6yo) in Nov.
Midnight Dove 40-1 (10-9) In touch, headway 8th, ridden and kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 11l behind Amron Lad (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Monturgeon (FR) 4-6fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, led approaching next, ridden and headed before last, edged left flat, one pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Oscar Sunset (11-3) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Parhelion 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, left in lead 6th, joined when hit 2 out, soon headed, weakened and no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 15, 13l behind Gap Of Dunloe (10-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
R Craig (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway 7th, mistake 3 out, soon went 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 15, 38l behind Frizzo (11-0) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
The Last Bridge 200-1 (10-9) In rear, reminders 4th, slow next, behind when ducked left and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Amron Lad (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 11 ran.
The Walnut Tree (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Tracked winner, lost place 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Henri Prends Garde (11-4) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Aug, 6 ran.
Miss Harriet Lewis 80-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, joined winner halfway, weakened over 6f out, 8th of 10, well behind Howaboutnow (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Joseph Mercer (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Held up towards ear, hampered 4th, ridden before 6th, under pressure in 5th when hit 3 out, went 3rd soon after, went 2nd and closing slightly when hit 2 out, beaten when blundered last, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Jump City (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
