mid-division, weakened from 9th, took remote 3rd after last
in touch, headway approaching 4 out, left upside 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from last
held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to challenege next, mistake when weakening 2 out, pulled up and dismounted after last
in touch, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before next
led from 3rd, hit 4th, 5th, narrow advantage when fell 4 out
close up, weakened from 4 out
held up mid-division, headway 8th, left in lead 3 out, ridden, soon under pressure, kept on well from last
led to 3rd, lost place next, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, weakened from 7th
always towards rear, struggling from 7th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway approaching 8th, weakened from next
in touch, weakened from 7th, pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
always behind, tailed off from 7th
There does not appear to be a great deal to choose between Auroras Encore and Rightway Star but marginal preference on the prevailing ground is for the former, who gets the vote, with Lease Lend rated the pick of the remainder. The selection was well held in better grade in the River Don last month but came back to form in a decent novice hurdle at Warwick recently and a reproduction of that effort may suffice today. Nicky Richards has his team in good form at present so his runner Viking Rebel, who is less exposed than most of these, has to be respected. Fresh Winter looks to be going the right way as does Malcolm Jefferson's Cadoudalas but of more interest may be Lease Lend. Tim Easterby's gelding was a deserved winner at Doncaster last time and has to be respected but preference is for Auroras Encore.
Bleu Pois (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, outpaced next, ridden and kept on under pressure 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 18, 4l behind Pelo Du Bief (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Fresh Winter 5-1 (11-4) Made virtually all, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft beating Sharkeys Dream (10-8) by 17l, 12 ran.
Lease Lend 6-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 6th, driven out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan beating Important Business (11-3) by 1/2l, 22 ran.
Rightway Star (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Chased leader, led 3 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Starting Point (12-0) by 15l, 8 ran.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Always prominent, hit 4th, led and hung right after 3 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, stayed on flat, always held, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Superior Wisdom (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs.
Cadoudalas (FR) 5-2fav (10-12) Tracked leader, stumbled after 6th, led next, hard pressed from 3 out, held on under pressure flat, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Mr Barnacle (10-12) by a hd, 16 ran.
Viking Rebel (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, led 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Quws Law (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Cherry Tot 100-1 (11-3) In rear and ridden when fell 4 out in race won by Lease Lend (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan, 22 ran.
Hall of Flame (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in mid-division, weakened 5th, tailed off 3 out, 16th of 18, well behind Blue Bajan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Sam Cruise 5-2 (12-5) A cl up; led 3 out; clr last, won at Brocklesby Park 3m ptp gd beating Distant Memory (12-5) by 20l, 7 ran.
Young Bobby 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 9th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 16, 32l behind Bold Ransom (10-7) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Hooky's Hope 200-1 (10-8) Prominent until ridden and weakened from 4 out, 10th of 15, 26l behind La Vecchia Scuola (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gs.
Moneylaws (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Always behind, 8th of 13, well behind Rosie All Over (11-8) at Kelso 2m 2f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Newgate Suds 10-1 (10-2) Always behind, 6th of 14, well behind Storymaker (11-3) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan '07.
