tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, left remote 4th 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, mistake and left 2nd 2 out, closed last, led flat, ridden out
led 1st until before 4th, led 7th until after 3 out, ridden to lead narrowly when left clear 2 out, awkward and reduced lead last, headed and one pace flat
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, weakening when left modest 3rd 2 out
mid-division when not fluent 1st, mistake and unseated rider next
held up towards rear, behind from 6th
led until 1st, led before 4th until 7th, led after 3 out, ridden and narrowly headed when fell 2 out
mid-division, pushed along after 5th, behind next
mid-division, closed before 4th, hampered by loose horse and lost place next, not fluent and lost touch next
in rear, no chance from 6th
not fluent 4th, always behind
It was testing ground when FERGAL MAEL DUIN finished runner-up at Uttoxeter last month. A distance clear of the rest of the field, David Bridgewater's charge gets the nod to go one better in this. Spookydooky was expected to finish closer at Carlisle last time and it could be he prefers faster going but bumper winners Enchanted Garden and Ready Token are worth noting on their hurdling debuts. Lyric Street recorded just the one win on the Flat but had a rating of 98 at one point and makes his hurdling bow for the McCain yard today.
Arthur's Oak 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, well held 3rd before next, left 2nd and hampered last, 2nd of 6, 24l behind Steel City (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Enchanted Garden 3-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Izzini (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
Fergal Mael Duin 9-2 (11-0) Led until 4th, ridden and no impression on winner after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Cheltenian (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
Lyric Street (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 10l behind Azrag (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct (flat).
Mackeson 100-1 (10-12) Took keen hold early, always towards rear, tailed off, last of 18, well behind Garde La Victoire (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Not Another Monday (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Mijhaar (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Ready Token (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 9, 25l behind Southfield Vic (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Apr.
Shinooki (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Always in rear, 7th of 10, 45l behind Royal Regatta (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Spookydooky (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, hit 4th, jumped left 5 out, headed before 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 12, 17l behind The Liquidator (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Agent Louise 20-1 (10-12) Took keen hold and always towards rear, 8th of 13, 24l behind Monita Bonita (10-10) at Southwell 2m mares n h flat (6) gd in Jul.
Frosty Dawn 150-1 (10-0) Always in rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out, in a race won by I Need Gold (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft, 5 ran.
