mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before last
held up, steady headway after 5th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon one pace
tracked leader, lost place 4th, effort 4 out, one pace after
held up, headway 3rd, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last
close up until driven 5th, weakened
in touch, tracked leader after 5th, ridden to lead 2 out, all out and hung right after last
held up, blundered 5th, weakened 3 out
always in the rear
Cortinas, Yellow Flag and Final Bid are three against the field in a trappy handicap hurdle and the tentative nomination is given to Yellow Flag. The selection was a fair third behind Stravara last time out, looks sure to be suited by this longer trip and with his yard back ion better form he looks the value bet in an open affair. Cortinas has been well backed on his last two starts but has not come up to scratch and at likely odds he is gain taken on although this faster ground could bring about improvement. Final Bid won well last time out when beating Royal Prodigy but this looks tougher and he looks vulnerable under a penalty. Snake Charmer is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he is hard to win with. Of the others Take A Mile hails fr4om a yard in form but looks vulnerable under top weight and for the winner we return to Yellow Flag.
Take A Mile (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) In touch, hit 5th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Joe Brown (11-3) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Yellow Flag 5-1 (11-12) Prominent in main group, not fluent 5th, challenged 3 out, every chance approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Stravara (11-11) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Final Bid (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Led, headed 2nd, ridden to lead 3 out, jumped right 2 out, held on, won at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) sft beating Royal Prodigy (11-2) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Snake Charmer 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway after 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 9l behind Pamak D'airy (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft.
Liberia (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, hampered 6th, pulled up before 3 out pulled up 4 out in race won by Otantique (11-5) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
Methodical 10-1 (11-6) Behind 4th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Wun Chai (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs, 21 ran.
Trigger Guard 40-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 5th, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, left 4th at last, 4th of 12, 36l behind Fredensborg (11-9) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Ghaill Force 25-1 (9-11) Always behind, no impression, 4th of 10, 13l behind Bay Hawk (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Wavertree One Off 33-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, well behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by El Zorro (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Cortinas (GER) 9-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch, mistake 4th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Prime Contender (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
