held up, behind 8th, went 4th flat, no chance
chased winner, pecked 10th, ridden before 2 out, no impression last
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place 4th, outpaced 8th, weakened before 2 out, lost 4th flat
made all, jumped left a few times, clear 8th until 12th, clear again last, easily
held up in rear, headway 5th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, not fluent and jumped left, mistake 3rd and 10th, headway 12th, weakened 2 out
Elkstone has won twice around here but has pulled up twice following a long absence. Winning point-to-pointer Rookie Trainer makes his debut over fences having landed a Fontwell handicap hurdle when last seen in May. CORRAN CROSS, a winner at Downpatrick in August, has run in better company than this on his two starts for new connections so gets the nod though Rob The Getaway has twice finished runner-up over fences on this track and scored at Stratford in April. Luckofthedraw has a penalty for last week's victory at Fontwell while Heart Of A Lion is up 6lb for landing a Class 5 Ludlow handicap over two miles.
Rookie Trainer (IRE) 10-3 (11-11) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th or 4 out, headway before 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in May beating Alrightjack (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Corran Cross (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and led 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, kept on but no match for winner, 2nd of 11, 12l behind Geryville (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Rob The Getaway (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led, headed but remained close up 8th, lost place 4 out, soon struggling, 6th of 8, 31 1/2l behind Cawthorne Lad (11-6) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Luckofthedraw (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden before 3 out, headway from 2 out, took lead after last, stayed on strongly, won at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Dorking Lad (11-10) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Elkstone 33-1 (12-0) Towards rear, struggling from 3 out, pulled up, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Heart Of A Lion (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Waited with in 5th on inside, awkward 3rd, closer 8th, went 3rd next, effort out wide and hit 4 out, went 2nd next, led after 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, ridden edged right and stayed on well run-in, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Obey The Rules (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
