tracked leader, niggled along and lost place 6th, hit 8th and stumbled, weakened next, awkward 3 out, pulled up before next
held up, took ken hold, headway from 4th and went 2nd 5th, ridden before mistake last, 3rd and no extra flat
made all, ridden and edged right flat, stayed on
chased leaders, bumped 3rd, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd flat, switched left and stayed on, unable to challenge winner
This looks wide-open but King Muro only won a seller over hurdles last time and was pulled up over fences in Ireland in May. My Little Cracker’s record over fences is also a concern but Martiloo is improving with experience over the larger obstacles and wasn’t beaten far off this mark last time at Hexham. WELCOME BEN is the most exposed of these novices but on a real roll and may be capable of defying a further 9lb rise on ground that suits.
My Little Cracker (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, chased winner before 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Royal Debutante (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
King Muro 13-8 (11-4) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, 2nd from 5th, led 3 out, ridden and kept straight line from last and grabbed false rail flat, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m (5) gd in Jun beating Newstart (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Welcome Ben (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-5) Made all, strongly challenged when not fluent 2 out, drew clear after last, ran on well, won at Perth 2m hcp (5) gd in May beating The Pierre Lark (11-7) by 8l, 9 ran.
Martiloo (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased front pair after next, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, always held, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Miss Conway (10-13) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
