close up, ridden after 3 out, soon outpaced
held up, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 7th, soon weakened
held up, chased leaders 6th, weakened and not fluent next
close up, led approaching 6th, quickened pace next, headed last, soon no extra
behind, weakened from 3 out
held up, chased leaders from 3 out, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, led and hit last, kept on well
led, stumbled twice after 5th, headed approaching next, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
SPRINGFIELD RAKI could prove to be too classy for his rivals and he is given the vote to land this novices' hurdle at the expense of Tom's Toybox and Pokanoket. The selection won two bumper races last season and was off the mark over hurdles at the fourth time of asking over course and distance last month. He was good enough to win a bumper race with a penalty and we feel he will be good enough to win a hurdle race under the same conditions so if he reproduces his recent form he is difficult to oppose. Tom's Toybox shot up the ratings last season over fences winning four times. He won again in March but he pulled up at Perth last time out. He does however, run off his favoured hurdles mark, whereby he is seven pound well in. If he reproduces his best he should be in the shake-up. But Springfield Raki makes most appeal and he can land the prize.
Springfield Raki 13-8fav (10-9) Chased leader, hit 4 out, led approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Ashburton Lad (11-1) by 2l, 7 ran.
Bushy Island (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Jeepstar (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Direct Approach (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 12, 23l behind Born To Perform (11-5) at Southwell 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Quenzo Conti (FR) 33-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led after 4th, headed 5th, led again briefly after 7th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind De Welsh Wizzard (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Tom's Toybox 9-1 (11-2) Behind, outpaced 5 out, soon beaten, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cantgeton (10-1) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Tom O'Tara 100-1 (11-3) Always behind, lost touch 8th, tailed off when pulled up soon after 3 out, in a race won by Outlaw Tom (11-3) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Louis Ludwig (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 12, 22l behind I'm Delilah (10-7) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Pokanoket (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, no impression last, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Edgefour (10-12) at Southwell 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Lady Rose Lewis 80-1 (10-3) Prominent, went 2nd after 3f until halfway, weakened 6f out, 11th of 12, well behind Flexi Time (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gf in Apr.
Miss Carroll 16-1 (10-10) Towards rear, hit 2nd, headway on inside 4 out, ridden 3 out, soon held, 8th of 14, 46l behind Tootsie Too (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
