mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, outpaced from next
held up behind, ridden and weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 3 out
held up, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened next
held up, headway 4th, blundered next, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, every chance last, no extra run in
mid-division, headway 4th, hampered led approaching 2 out, kept on once pace and headed towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
keen hold, held up behind, lost place 4th, pulled up before next
led, headed after 3 out, ridden and weakened next
held up behind, hampered 1st, jumped slowly next, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next
held up in touch, headway after 3 out, badly hampered approaching 2 out, soon ridden, ran on to lead towards finish
Salinas probably has the best form of those to have raced previously over hurdles but this may go to one of the newcomers with the vote going to Stage By Stage, who is preferred to Miss Holly. The last mentioned was a dual middle distance handicapper when with Mark Johnston but has not been seen on a racecourse for 16 months and it is difficult to know how much ability the Sue Smith-trained mare retains. The vote then goes to Charlie Egerton's Stage By Stage. Formerly with Michael Bell, the son of In The Wings was easily the best of these on the flat having been rated 103 at one stage. Provided that he is fit enough for his first outing since September and can hurdle fluently enough, Stage By Stage looks the one to be on. Len Lungo's bumper winner The Weaver has to be respected on his hurdling debut, along with Owen Brennan's consistent Swift Swallow and the aforementioned Salinas but the vote goes to Stage By Stage.
