in touch when fell 4th
tracked leaders, ridden to narrow lead 3 out, headed and mistake 2 out, weakened
held up in rear, mistake 6th, ridden and soon beaten
led, headed approaching 3 out, pulled up soon after 2 out
held up mid-division, headway 6th, with leader 7th, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, headed flat, no chance with winner
held up, keen in rear, hampered and unseated rider 4th
held up in rear, smooth headway from 4 out to track leaders, going well when led on bit flat, easily
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up 3 out
in touch, badly hampered and lost place 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on, no chance with leaders
mid-division, some headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up in rear, some headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, under pressure when jumped left last
tracked leader until ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders until ridden 4 out, pulled up soon after 3 out
This is by far the most competitive race on the card, with a number of these coming here on the back of wins last time out, but Mr Fluffy gets a tentative selection from us. Philip Hobbs' gelding went down by just a neck to Captain Zinzan at Huntingdon last month, but reopposes on 12 pounds better terms here and that should be more than enough to see this lightly-raced sort reverse the form. The Hobbs stable also saddles Quiet Water, who won nicely at Stratford last time, but Richard Johnson rides Mr Fluffy and that's good enough for us. Sue Smith also saddles two runners, the pick of which should be recent Wetherby scorer Smith's Landing, as Cill Churnain is likely to need the outing. Wagner, Drakestone, Maiden Voyage and Marrell all come here in top form and clearly have to be respected, particularly Drakestone who is progressing well and comes here on a hat trick and is at the right end of the handicap. But Mr Fluffy could just prove to be a top class handicap hurdler and he gets the vote today.
