always in rear
in rear, ridden 5th, soon struggling
led, ridden after 7th, headed 4 out and weakened
mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out
in rear, pulled up before 4 out, dismounted
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened 7th, pulled up before next
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden to chase leader 4 out, ridden and weakened last
tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, tailed off and pulled up
in touch, weakened 4 out, fell 3 out
held up, in touch, led 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, weakened
held up, headway after 7th, running on well, shaken up to lead approaching last, ran on
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, held from 2 out
held up, headway afer 6th, ridden 4 out, plugged on
mid-division, weakened 7th
in touch, lost place and ridden 6th, soon behind
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened next
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 4 out
A wide open handicap hurdle in which we like the look of ISLAND ARROW with both Wardington Lad and Smart John worth noting. The selection is only lightly raced and looks capable of winning more races off his current mark. He put a disappointing performance behind him on his first start for his new connections at Warwick and ran much better when fourth of fourteen at Bangor last time out. The ground conditions should be in his favour and with further improvement still to come he could prove difficult to beat. Wardington Lad is four pounds higher since winning at Towcester last time out. Again he is only lightly raced and could be on the up grade so any market moves should be noted. Smart John has top weight to deal with but he did run well off his current mark at Ludlow before breaking his maiden tag at Wetherby on his penultimate outing. He was disappointing last time out carrying a penalty and more is expected this time around now back in a handicap. However for the winner we return to Island Arrow.
Smart John 11-4 (11-0) Pulled hard, soon in touch, hampered 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, eased flat, dismounted after finish, 5th of 9, well behind Cullahill (11-0) at Worcester 3m nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Pugilist 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on, 5th of 18, 7l behind You're The Top (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Bathwick Breeze 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, 37l behind Kosmos Bleu (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Aspolan (GER) 12-1 (10-11) Held up when fell 6th, in a race won by The Treacle Eater (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd, 16 ran.
Flow Gently Along (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on well towards finish, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Izita Star (11-5) at Chepstow 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Innocent Rebel (USA) 6-4 (11-0) Led 2-6; one pce frm 3 out, 4th of 6, 8l behind Nobody Tells Me (11-0) at Wadebridge 3m ptp in Mar.
Original Thought (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) With leader, led 6th, headed and Fell, in a race won by An Accordion (10-13) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gd in Nov '06, 7 ran.
Island Arrow (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, hampered on bend after 7th, headway after 3 out, went 4th flat, stayed on, 4th of 14, 9l behind Sir Ian (11-7) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Willie Warson (IRE) 150-1 (10-9) Mistake 1st, chased leader, led well before 3rd to 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 9, 32l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (10-12) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Joli Classical (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 6th, effort after 3 out, one pace from next, left 2nd last, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Chunky Lad (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f am sll hdl (5) gd.
Wardington Lad 33-1 (11-7) Always in touch, not much room briefly on inside bend after 4th, ridden 2 out, ran on under pressure to lead near finish, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar beating Ramvaswani (11-0) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Farmers Cross (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, blundered 4th, mistake 8th, good headway soon after to press leaders, hung left and weakened approaching 3 out, soon eased and tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Max Bygraves (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd.
Nautical Approach (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, improved 5th, chased leader approaching 2 out, led soon after and ridden, caught post, 2nd of 12, ns behind Palos Conti (10-10) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Mistress To No One 10-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, hit 2nd, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 6l behind At The Money (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Gallant Hero 66-1 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Tarsus (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 17 ran.
Gouranga 7-2fav (10-13) In rear, pushed along 6th and behind, driven 3 out, kept on approaching last, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Tampa Boy (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Changing Lanes 4-5 (12-0) (cp) (tt) ap; led 12; clr when fell last, in a race won by West Town Boy (12-0) at Ystradowen 3m ptp in Mar, 11 ran.
Runaround Sue (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 14, well behind Breaking Storm (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sep.
