always going well, tracked leaders, led 6th, not fluent 3 out, clear next, hit last, easily
always towards rear, mistake 5th, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last
led, pecked 3rd, headed 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
never fluent, went right 1st, mistake 2nd, always behind
held up behind, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous
held up, headway and not fluent 5th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
went right 1st, in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
chased leader, ridden to go 2nd when blundered 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
Manorson gets the confident vote in the opener with Wavertree Boy and Space Star the pair most likely to chase him home. The selection looks to have all the potential to go on and become a Cheltenham horse in March, and he certainly won well enough last time when beating Goblet of Fire on this track. He has conditions to suit again here and he should take all the beating. Wavertree Boy rates as the main danger as this 5-year-old was quite useful on the flat and he sure to have been well-schooled for his hurdling debut. He hails from a leading yard and should go well. Space Star ran a fair race last time at Uttoxeter and he has shown enough to suggest that he can win races, but he might prefer a slightly faster surface and he may have to settle for place money here. The Player and Va Pensiro are interesting newcomers to the hurdling game so are worth noting in the market, but for the winner we return to Manorsan.
