in touch, hit 7th, outpaced when hit 3 out, ridden, weakened next
behind until ridden, kept on from 2 out, never near leaders
with leader, outpaced 3 out, ridden, weakened after next
towards rear, headway 8th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led approaching next, ridden clear last, kept on well
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden, headed approaching next, one pace, no impression approaching last
mid-division, reminders 7th, lost place next, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, hit 9th, soon pushed along, never on terms
led, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden, kept on same pace from next
mid-division, lost place 7th, behind from 3 out
steadied start, raced keenly, soon in touch, lost place 7th, behind when pulled up before next
Spectested should prove too good in this novices' hurdle with Common Girl and Cash King the pair we fear the most. The selection was last seen out when putting in a respectable effort at Wolverhampton and prior to that he had won well at Wetherby. His best form is on a softer surface but he does handle this faster ground as well and he is taken to lead them home. Common Girl will find this ground to her liking and she certainly ran well at Huntingdon before falling at Haydock last time. If she puts her best foot forward then she should be good enough to take a hand in the finish. Cash King was second behind Nine De Sivola over this course and distance last time and a reproduction of that effort should see him in the money again. Moscow Blue may prove best of the rest, but for the winner we will stick with Spectested.
Moscow Blue 7-2 (11-2) Held up, headway 7th, ridden and weakened after 8th, no chance when bad mistake 2 out, 7th of 11, well behind Classical Ben (11-4) at Worcester 3m nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Spectested (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, pushed along 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, ran on flat to lead close home, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) sft in Dec beating Joe Brown (11-12) by 3l, 14 ran.
Common Girl (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked winner until fell at the 7th in race won by Heltornic (11-6) at Haydock 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) sft, 8 ran.
Ad Murum (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders to 4f out, soon weakened, 15th of 19, 43l behind Young Albert (11-4) at Ayr 2m nhf (H) sft in Dec.
Callingwood (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Always behind, last of 10, 47l behind Master Marmalade (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (H) gd in May.
Cash King (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace and left 2nd last, no impression, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Nine De Sivola (11-3) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd.
Double Turn 40-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 16, 23l behind Turnstile (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Musical Chord (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Money Trix (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 14 ran.
Nearly Never 100-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, tailed off 3 out, 12th of 16, well behind Mr Pointment (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Red Wharf 80-1 (10-9) Mid-division, blundered and lost place 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Chef de Cour (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Shady Baron (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 5th of 8, 34l behind Ballyjohnboy Lord (11-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft.
Tallahassee (IRE) 150-1 (10-7) Always behind pulled up 3 out in race won by Hard Act To Follow (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (D) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Whitsun 200-1 (10-7) Held up, outpaced 3 out, behind when fell 2 out in race won by Industrial Star (10-12) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gd, 15 ran.
Sylviesbuck (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, reminders 7th, hit and left 2nd 11th, ridden and in 3rd when fell 3 out in race won by Villair (11-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
