held up towards rear, headway 3 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, pulled up quickly after 4th
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 2 out, led after last, kept on well
tracked leaders, outpaced after 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace
led, raced keen, ridden and headed after last, one pace
held up in touch, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
held up in rear, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened after 2 out
tracked leader, pushed along and weakened after 2 out
mid-division, pushed along after 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Although conceding plenty of weight all round in this handicap hurdle, FLYING DOCTOR is flying at present and gets the vote leaving Old Noddy and Sparkling Zola battling for minor cash. Three wins from four runs is the record for the selection this term and he won with a bit to spare last time. Had he been carrying the 7lbs penalty he has on his back here that day he still would have won and with form on fast ground in the past he looks to have really strong claims. Old Noddy is a former course and distance winner, who didn't quite last home over a much longer trip last time. That said he was well beaten off this mark a couple of runs back over a comparable test so he will have to improve. Sparkling Zola is unexposed and wasn't beaten that far by the selection at Aintree on her reappearance run. The weights favour a much closer race but since that meeting the pick has improved greatly. Hooky's Hope needed his return run after a long absence and if retaining his earlier ability is in with a shout but Flying Doctor is the form horse and should be winning again.
Flying Doctor 9-4fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, led on bit 2 out, not extended, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hld 0-95 (5) gd beating Finbin (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Old Noddy (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) Led, headed approaching 10th, weakened approaching last, 5th of 7, 13l behind Minouchka (11-5) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Sparkling Zola 66-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 15, 7l behind Boyoboy (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Almond Court (IRE) 22-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced approaching last, soon one pace, no impression, 4th of 16, 21l behind Flying Doctor (10-6) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Birnies Boy 100-1 (10-13) Raced keenly, led after 2nd, blundered next, headed 5th, led again 7th to before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, well behind Thyne For Deploy (10-13) at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Hooky's Hope 28-1 (9-8) In touch, challenged 2 out, driven and lost place on long run to last, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 40l behind Flying Doctor (10-6) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Vicentio 28-1 (9-9) Towards rear, lost touch and pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Flying Doctor (9-13) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Glacial Rambler (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 8th, soon pushed along, weakened next, 11th of 15, well behind Boyoboy (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Rosie Larkin (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 14, 26l behind Flying Doctor (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hld 0-95 (5) gd.
