prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch and keen, mistake 2nd, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, bumped on bend approaching last, headed and one pace
in rear, blundered 5th, not recover
in rear and mistake 1st, keen hold, weakend 4th
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 4th
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and outpaced next, hit 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
tracked leaders and keen, ridden and every chance 2 out, bumped on bend approaching last, soon held
held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and weakened after next
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
In the opener, Wise Choice gets the vote over Stumped and Decree Nisi. Wise Choice won well over course and distance on his hurdling debut before understandably finding the likes of Freeze The Flame too good for him at Uttoxeter last time. He should set a good pace here and can make them all go in the opener. Placed in a 12-furlong all-weather maiden on the Flat, where he achieved a rating of 66 in a light career, the Henry Daly-trained Stumped has to be of interest today. Pukka Tique lost his way after showing some promise on the Flat a year ago and maybe eight flights of hurdles will rekindle his enthusiasm for racing. Participation was rated 75 when winning a 10-furlong Leicester claimer in July, so he should be given some thought. Decree Nisi finished a fair third on his hurdling debut at Wincanton and, with the runner-up Katies Tuitor having franked the form by winning since, he cannot be ruled out of a good run. Finally, it is interesting to see Mick Channon have a runner over hurdles in Indian Girl, but we prefer others, with the selection being Wise Choice.
Wise Choice 9-2 (11-5) Led, mistake 4th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly, 3rd of 11, 25l behind Freeze The Flame (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Decree Nisi 13-2 (10-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 8l behind That Look (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) frm in Oct.
Genau (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, tailed off 3 out, 4th of 8, well behind Mambo Sun (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Aug.
Mr Bilbo Baggins 40-1 (8-2) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon lost place, eased over 1f out, last of 15, well behind Sa Nau (8-10) at Newcastle 2m 3yo hcp (5) gd in Sept (Flat).
Participation 2-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, stayed on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Piano Player (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 3yo clm (5) pol in Jul (Flat).
Stumped 4-1 (9-3) Led, ridden 2f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Jump Ship (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Sept (Flat).
Ebony Lady 50-1 (8-1) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 13, 10l behind Rock Haven (9-2) at Redcar 1m 3f sll (6) gs in Aug (Flat).
Indian Girl 20-1 (8-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 48l behind Malakiya (9-4) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct (Flat).
