led, headed when quickly pulled up after 11th, lame
chased leaders in rear, blundered and unseated rider 1st
chased leader, left alone from 11th
Just a trio lining up here and certainly not a race to get heavily involved in, but we will take a chance on Surricate to get the better of Like A Lord. The selection is no more than tentative, but he is rated better than the other pair on hurdling form, and while that does not always translate he had a bit of a pipe opener a couple of weeks ago, comes from a yard in form and receives weight, so with all of that in mind he gets the nod. Like A Lord has the greater chasing experience but has failed to complete in two of his four starts to date, including a crashing fall here a couple of starts ago. He was also beaten a mile last time and needs to show more before this judge parts with any hard earned. Sharkey's Dream, another Ferdy Murphy inmate, was not too bad a hurdler and always looked a chaser-in-the-making, but he blundered away his chance on debut and jockey bookings suggest he is the yard's number two behind our selection Surricate.
Like A Lord (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) In touch, outpaced from 5 out, 4th of 8, well behind Ice Tea (11-8) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gf.
Sharkeys Dream (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Held up behind, blundered 10th and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Cloudmor (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs, 14 ran.
Surricate (FR) 66-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, struggling from 8th, 5th of 9, well behind Tidal Bay (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs.
