in rear, headway approaching 5 out, weakened next, pulled up soon after
tracked leaders, blundered 1st, hit 5 out, led next, stayed on well from last
led, blundered 6 out, headed 4 out, one pace from last
held up, chased leaders after 5 out, one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened 5 out
tracked leader, ridden 4 out, one pace from 2 out
A decent contest where ERNST BLOFELD is the preferred choice ahead of Masked Man and Hinton Thunderbolt. The selection has never yet been out of the frame in six starts and relishes soft ground. Both of his novices' hurdling wins came over this sort of trip and with cut underfoot, while he proved his stamina over further when runner-up on his chase debut here last time. If able to build on that then he will take plenty of beating today. Masked Man enjoyed his sole success when the ground was bottomless at Towcester, and he was never as good as the selection over hurdles. This trip should be ideal for him but he has been out of sorts over fences so far and with the yard still under a bit of a cloud he is taken on. Hinton Thunderbolt is an interesting runner, returning to the racecourse after an absence of 21 months. Venetia Williams placed him to win two of his four hurdles, both of which came on soft or heavy ground. This trip is ideal and if he is fit and ready to do himself justice after such a lay-off then he should go very close. Big Burrows stays further than this and despite his only win being on good going, he should enjoy some cut and with the yard going well he is a danger if putting in a clear round. It is hard to fancy any of the other trio and the spectre of Ernst Blofeld can dominate here.
Big Burrows (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, hit 8th, fell 10th, in a race won by Gansey (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 4 ran.
Ernst Blofeld (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Tracked leaders, left pressing winner 5th, every chance from 4 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Our Hero (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Hinton Thunderbolt 9-4 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 6th, ridden clear last, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar '08 beating Ambrosinni (11-5) by 11l, 10 ran.
Masked Man (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Mistake 1st, in touch, headway 12th, chased leaders next, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 30l behind Massini's Maguire (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f beg chs (3) gd in Nov '08.
No More Punts (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Always behind, mistake, reminders 9th, tailed off 3 out, 5th of 6, well behind The Polomoche (11-1) at Fakenham 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Chief Lady Olwyn 200-1 (10-8) In rear, hit 4th, soon behind tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by April San (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (5) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Dermatologiste 40-1 (10-6) With leader, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Synchronised (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
