led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, 4th and ridden when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
mid-division, headway under pressure 2 out, stayed on to lead flat, driven out
tracked leaders and keen, outpaced when hampered after 6th, no danger after
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, soon beaten
held up, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on one pace from last
held up, headway 6th, led after 2 out, driven, headed and no extra close home
towards rear, ridden and kept on one pace from 2 out
tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, soon no extra
in touch, blundered 3 out, soon driven and one pace
GAZE ON AND ON is the strong selection to land this handicap hurdle leaving Stepchange and Rexmehead scrapping for the minor honours. The selection is looking to land a hat-trick here after following a good looking win in a maiden with a comfortable enough victory in an amateur riders handicap last time out. Because of the status of that race her mark remains untouched and on this ground the advice is to get on this one now before the assessor has his wicked way with her rating. Stepchange looks to have it all to do challenging the pick on this ground but in his favour he does take a step down in class here and is weighted to be involved. Rexmehead was a winner over a shorter trip at this track last time out and although he is in good heart the eight pound rise in his mark looks prohibitive. Mr Midaz is now 10lbs below his last winning mark which came at this time last year in similar conditions but while all that is promising this trip looks a bit of a stamina stretch so we have to give a strong vote to Gaze On And On.
Stepchange (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, with leader, ridden and lost place approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 15l behind Pinewood Legend (10-9) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
One Black Cat 11-2 (10-3) Mid-division, weakened 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Upright Ima (11-5) at Hexham 2m mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) gf in Apr, 13 ran.
Mr Midaz 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on one pace flat, 3rd of 18, 6l behind Rexmehead (10-1) at Hexham 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Graze On And On 4-1fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd 4th, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Towcester 2m (5) gd beating Tootsie Too (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Spare Days 33-1 (11-4) Behind, ridden and outpaced 3 out, never on terms, last of 6, 44l behind Eddie Dowling (11-0) at Perth 2m clm hdl (4) gd.
Mighty Fella 40-1 (10-10) Led until headed 4 out, ridden and soon weakened, 7th of 8, well behind Pete (10-13) at Kelso 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd.
Rexmehead (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Towards rear, headway 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Hexham 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd beating Longdale (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 18 ran.
The Dunion 200-1 (10-5) Held up, always behind, 6th of 9, well behind Frontier Dancer (11-5) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Dippy Duck (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) In touch, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 18, 33l behind Rexmehead (10-1) at Hexham 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Mardood 14-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, one pace from 3 out, 7th of 17, 21l behind Lady Wright (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
Lifes A Mystery (IRE) 80-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 6th, last of 9, well behind Starting Point (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan '08.
Gunadoir (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Towards rear, mistake 1st, pushed along 4th, soon outpaced, 7th of 14, 22l behind Mystified (11-3) at Cartmel 2m 1f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Fair Spin 25-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 5th, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 11, well behind Oscar Trial (10-3) at Newcastle 2m 4f 4yo cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
