tracked leader, effort 2 out, soon weakened
chased winner, hard ridden to challenge after 3 out, faded next
made all, 20 lengths clear after 3 out, unchallenged, eased down
always behind
held up in rear, headway 3 out, never nearer
chased leaders, effort to challenge next, no chance with winner
behind, headway 3 out, soon one pace
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, soon no impression
chased leaders, lost place after 3 out
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, progress after 3rd last, stayed on well, never nearer
chased leaders, lost place 3 out
always in rear, pulled up before 2 out
mistake 1st, always behind, pulled up after 3 out
Andy Crook's Jeronimo Joe ran well in a handicap at Carlisle last month and has claims back in a novices' hurdle but the four-year-old is likely to struggle under his penalty in a race taken to go to CONQUISTO, who gets the vote over Shilpa. Alan King's mare opened her account over hurdles when successful at Huntingdon last month and she looks to be going the right way so has to be respected even under her penalty. Peter Niven's Beat The Shower was nothing out of the ordinary on the level but has shown promise in both starts over timber and has to be considered, while Don McCain's Kris Kin Line stepped up considerably from his debut outing over hurdles at Newcastle when a good second to Good Old Thyme at Catterick last month and he has to be respected. Malcolm Jefferson's Betterthanlikely is likely to do better over further and a better bet looks to be Conquisto, who gets the vote. The Steve Gollings-trained gelding comfortably justified short odds when successful at Fakenham last month and he can follow up here before going on to better things.
Betterthanlikely 11-8fav (10-9) Steadied start, raced keenly and rapid headway to lead after 1st, headed 6th, outpaced when pecked next, weakened 2 out, 7th of 8, 40l behind Mister Stickler (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Bunglasha Jake (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led, clear 2nd, came back to field approaching 7th, headed next, soon weakened, last of 5, well behind Bergo (10-13) at Kempton 2m beg chs (4) gf in Oct.
Conquisto 4-9fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led 3rd, clear next, unchallenged after, very easily, won at Fakenham 2m 4yo mdn stks (4) gd in Mar beating Kinsya (11-0) by 25l, 9 ran.
Flapjack Crumbly 50-1 (11-3) Led, headed 4f out, soon driven and weakened, 9th of 10, well behind Roses (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr '09.
Iona Days (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 23l behind Thunderstorm (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Jeronimo Joe 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, stayed on to challenge when blundered last, every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Samizdat (10-8) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Orkney (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, no impression after 4 out, 8th of 15, 30l behind The Knoxs (10-7) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Oxford Circus 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, one pace from 3f out, 5th of 16, 14l behind All Three Fables (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gf in Jul '08.
Shilpa (IRE) 17-2 (10-4) Held up in touch, headway 5th, led approaching last, kept on, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Max Milano (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Beat The Shower 10-1 (10-7) In rear, headway between 3 out and 2 out, ridden and kept on to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Moonstreaker (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Favours Brave 14-1 (10-7) Mistake 1st, held up in touch, headway 3 out, driven and outpaced before next, soon one pace, 5th of 7, 14l behind Lord Villez (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Kris Kin Line (IRE) 40-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, led on bend after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Good Old Thyme (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Fentara 12-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, driven and headway into mid-division approaching 3 out, 7th and beaten when mistake next, 7th of 14, 33l behind Turbo Island (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Grange Corner 200-1 (8-1) Slowly into stride, behind, some late headway, never nearer, 5th of 7, 20l behind Bookiebasher Babe (8-5) at Southwell 1m fll hcp (4) fbs in May (flat).
Moonlight Rose 150-1 (10-7) In rear, mistake 3rd, lost touch 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mister Stickler (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Solo Choice 33-1 (10-4) Tracked leader to before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, stayed on under pressure to regain 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Lord Villez (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
