in touch, weakened 4 out
held up in touch, ridden after 5th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, one pace from 3 out
held up, headway 6th, led 3 out, soon clear
chased leaders, hit 5th, led 8th, headed next, no chance with winner
soon tracking leader, not fluent 3rd, lost place and dropped to rear after 5th, behind when pulled up before 7th
led to 8th, soon weakened, tailed off
An interesting novice's hurdle wraps up proceedings here and we have marginal preference for MOONWALKING with The Kealshore Kid and Big Bertha expected to be there or thereabouts at the post. The selection has improved on each of his three starts over hurdles to date and after an impressive run on the flat last time, which should have brought him on for this he looks best of this relatively small field. The Kealshore Kid was far from disgraced when fifth at Sedgefield recently and looks the main danger. He put in one of his best career performances here this time last year but is yet to win a race and we expect the search to go on. Big Bertha warrants respect on her return to action. She was last seen a year ago when her form was beginning to nose dive. Her last outing was over this course and distance she was fairly poor then but will have come on for the break and is capable of making the minors here if she can prove that her good form isn't long gone. Lord Samposin ran well when last here and a repeat of that performance may put pressure on the front three, but for us none look better than Jedd O'Keeffe's Moonwalking.
Arctic Cove 25-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway 5 out, ridden next, no impression, 5th of 11, 29l behind Seek The Truth (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct.
Blue Dove 100-1 (11-1) Chased leader to 3rd, lost place next, behind 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Cast Cada (11-7) at Southwell 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 6 ran.
Lord Samposin 22-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders until ridden and weakened from 4 out, 8th of 16, well behind Classic Cut (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Moonwalking 14-1 (10-12) In touch, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 17, 21l behind Quwetwo (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
The Kealshore Kid (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 5th of 11, 10l behind Run Forest Run (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Big Bertha 8-1 (10-8) Held up, headway on outer approaching 6, led after 4 out, ridden and headed next, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 21l behind Brook No Argument (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr '08.
One Rose 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, reminders 5th, soon lost place next, behind when pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Mirage Dore (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Apr '08, 14 ran.
