tracked leaders, ridden, weakened 4 out
held up, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, mistake last, chasing winner when switched right and kept on flat
held up, ridden 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led, ridden 3 out, weakening when headed 2 out
prominent until ridden and lost place 3rd, behind from 8th, tailed off 3 out
in touch, effort 9th, ridden, one pace 3 out
mid-division, hit 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
prominent until ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, ridden after 3 out, led 2 out, edged left, all out
towards rear, effort 8th, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, lost touch 8th, pulled up after 3 out
The opening Novices¿ hurdle looks to be between Not Left Yet, Key To The Kingdom and The Wooden Spoon and our selection is Not Left Yet. The Martin Pipe-stable has not had the best of seasons but has sent out two winners recently. Our selection was an impressive winner at Cheltenham last November and has since been competing in high quality handicaps. The drop down in class should see him score here and he should not be too inconvenienced by his penalty, though the longer trip is a concern. Key To The Kingdom carries a penalty for wins in novice-company at Downpatrick and Hexham. He has not been seen since that Hexham win last October and he comes here fresh. He looks set to run a good race and is the main danger to our selection. Of the remainder at lower weights The Wooden Spoon is of most interest. He looks to be heading in the right direction based on his third behind Before Dark over an extended three miles in heavy ground at Exeter earlier this month, and he has Mick Fitzgerald on board. The Wooden Spoon looks to be one for the shortlist but our selection is Not Left Yet.
Key To The Kingdom (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 2 out, soon ridden, held on well flat, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gf in Oct beating Sergio Coimbra (10-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, headway 6th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 20, 17l behind Material World (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Hambaphambili 14-1 (11-1) Led and jumped right, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, led again last, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 8, nk behind Pontiff (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f cnd mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Lavenoak Lad 13-2 (10-0) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led last, soon headed, kept on again close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Oulton Broad (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Red Echo (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders unti lost place 5th, weakened 8th, 5th of 10, well behind Before Dark (11-9) at Exeter 3m nov hdl (4) hvy.
The Wooden Spoon (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, stayed on run-in, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Before Dark (11-9) at Exeter 3m nov hdl (4) hvy.
Twofan (USA) 8-1 (11-12) Mid division, ridden to go moderate 7th approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 20, more than 8l behind In The High Grass (11-12) at Cork 2m mdn hdl hvy in Jan.
Allez Melina 33-1 (11-0) Held up, never near leaders, 7th of 18, 24l behind Tessanoora (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
