always behind, tailed off
in touch, chased winner from 6th until over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led 2nd until after 3rd, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened, hit last, tailed off
always behind, struggling 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, short lived effort on outside 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when mistake last
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened over 2f out
held up, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on final 2f
held up, headway 6th, went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner
prominent, led after 3rd, ridden clear from over 2f out, kept on well
mid-division, struggling, no impression when not fluent 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders until weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
soon ridden along in rear, lost touch approaching 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 5th
mid-division, struggling from 5th, tailed off
held up, behind, headway after 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
led to 2nd, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off
A tricky handicap hurdle can go the way of recent winner Schuh Shine at the main expense of Ortega and It's Blue Chip. Due to race off a 10lb higher mark in future, the selection will be looking to add some more money to the swelling coffers of his in-form trainer. Although the drop back in trip today doesn't look ideal, he could be good enough to beat this moderate bunch. Ortega's fourth on his penultimate start reads fairly well in the context of this race so he could run into some place money, however he looks fairly moderate so of more interest may be It's Blue Chip. Richard Johnson looks an eye-catching jockey booking and the drop back in trip today looks sure to suit. At bigger prices Andy Gin could go well for a long way but the trip may stretch him, especially returning from a lengthy lay-off, whilst Once Seen was still travelling well when departing last time-out so could again go well. In a tricky race then, we side with Schuh Shine to take the spoils.
Dancer Life (POL) 8-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 31l behind Sole Agent (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
You Do The Math (IRE) 3-1 (10-2) Held up, driven and outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Euro American (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Laurier d'Estruval (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Behind, hit 4th, blundered 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Mokum (10-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Rojabaa 8-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden, some headway after 4th, weakened next, 8th of 13, 37l behind Private Be (11-9) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Andy Gin (FR) 7-1 (11-7) With leader to 2nd, in touch to 4th, behind when hit 5th, 11th of 16, 27l behind Elegant Clutter (10-12) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Apr.
Come Out Firing (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 7th of 12, 36l behind Little Rocker (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Chef Tartare (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, no response, last of 7, 21l behind Blaze Ahead (10-6) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Pardon What 20-1 (10-11) Always in rear, 8th of 17, 44l behind The Real Deal (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Ortega (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 10, 36l behind Evelith Forrest (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Gala Evening 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 17, 14l behind Only For Sue (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Schuh Shine (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Prominent, led approaching 7th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, won at Warwick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec beating Moorlands Return (10-7) by a nk, 15 ran.
It's Blue Chip 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next, 3rd of 9, 23l behind Chickapeakray (11-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Just Superb 25-1 (10-13) In rear and not jump well, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Ice Bucket (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Proprioception (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 11, well behind Sir Bathwick (10-1) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Once Seen 20-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, led briefly approaching 2 out, disputing 3rd but held when fell at the last in race won by Scarlet Mix (10-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct, 16 ran.
Star of Germany (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Held up, behind when brought down at the 3rd in race won by Malko De Beaumont (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Called To The Bar 10-1 (10-4) Led, headed 3rd, lost place 7th, ridden 9th, blundered 4 out, beaten when pulled up 3 out in race won by Chopneyev (10-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Sonnengold (GER) 28-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, 7th of 11, 22l behind Nikola (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
