led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, led last, driven out
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, not fluent 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, tracked leaders approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next
always behind
in touch, tracked leaders approaching 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Gordon Elliott has plenty of runners with solid claims on the card and is taken to land this novices' hurdle with his representative BACKSTAGE, who has won his last two starts over fences and back over hurdles last time, and he gets the vote to complete a hat-trick ahead of Carsonstown Boy and Posh Lady. Ian Ferguson's mare had to work hard to open her account over timber when landing a maiden hurdle over course and distance at the beginning of the month and this looks tougher under her penalty. Soft Spoken Guy is lightly raced but has not improved from making a winning debut in a Clonmel bumper in September and of more interest may be Solway Blue, who ran better in a handicap here last time. Carsonstown Boy won well over course and distance two starts ago and has every chance if able to reproduce that form but he disappointed at Down Royal last time and a better option looks to be Backstage.
Backstage (FR) 2-7fav (10-12) Held up in touch, tracked leaders approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, soon clear, won at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf beating Flash Cummins (10-12) by 17l, 8 ran.
Carsonstown Boy (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra after 4 out, moderate 10th entering straight, kept on one pace, 9th of 20, 30l behind Ireland's Call (11-1) at Down Royal 2m hdl gf in Jun.
Montchara (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) 6th of 8, 25l behind Midnite Blews (10-2) at Perth 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Posh Lady (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Held up, headway 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gf beating Loughaderra Dame (10-13) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Soft Spoken Guy (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Soon tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Another Display (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Solway Blue 28-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, soon chasing leaders, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 18, 1l behind Intense Suspense (10-2) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
Kalatime (IRE) 100-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 36l behind Backstage (10-12) at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Miss Toozy Betsy (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) In rear and fell 1st, in a race won by Wensleydale Web (10-10) at Cartmel 2m 1f mrs nov sll hdl (5) gd in May, 12 ran.
