headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, led last, hung left, stayed on well
held up, headway on bit approaching 3 out, challenged next, every chance last, no extra close home
in touch, hit 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next
in rear, hampered and hit 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, weakening when hit last
ridden and behind from halfway
prominent, led after 4th, hit 3 out, ridden approaching next, one pace when hit last
prominent and keen, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
towards rear when fell 2nd
held up towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, hit 2nd, weakened after 4th, pulled up before 3 out
ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
headway 5th, weakening when hit 3 out
always behind, hit 5th, tailed off approaching 3 out
Marcus Foley has ridden 22 winners so far this season and partners Andrew Turnell's consistent hurdler The Names Bond, who gets the TEAMtalk vote. This four-year-old has put in plenty of encouraging performances over hurdles, running into the places in four of his seven starts without getting his head in front, and is sure to win sooner or later. Robert McNally is another conditional in good form and he takes the reins on the top-weight Search And Destroy. This Tom George-trained four-year-old made an encouraging hurdling bow at Chepstow last October, finishing just one length behind Frederic Forever. He finished outside the places in his other two starts last season, but goes well fresh and won hold an each-way chance here. Lee Vickers had ridden a couple of winners recently, but he has a tough mount in Ratified. This five-year-old has shown ability over both hurdles and fences, but lacks consistency. He has been well-beaten in all his starts since August and he'd really have to dig deep to win here. Terek is still learning the hurdling game, but carries just one pound less than the 11st 12lb top-weight. His trainer has a good strike rate so far this season, and this six-year-old is on the upgrade but the weights will be against him. Although his stablemates have not be performing particularly well lately, he has better form to his name than them, winning two-mile events at Southwell and Fakenham in October. This is about the right class of race for this seven-year-old and he should do well. Despite his in-and-out form, you cannot rule Didn'tsleepawink out of the equation. This six-year-old joined Jonjo O'Neill's yard from Ireland during the summer and has been well-beaten in his three starts over hurdles so far. However, with just 10st 7lb on his back, and his handler's knack of turning around an underperforming animal, he'll certainly be worth watching for improvement. Erins Lass is the best of the rest. She finished second in two Class E events in July and didn't do too badly last time out at Warwick. There's plenty of room for progression, and she is capable of running into the places.
