prominent on outer, pushed approaching 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last
mid-division, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no extra from last
led, raced keen, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
in rear, hit 4th, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led approaching last, driven out
held up towards rear, hit 4th, weakened after 3 out,
held up mid-division, mistake 1st, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place after 3 out
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra towards finish
held up towards rear, reminders 3rd, soon detached, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Tim Vaughan's Urban Tiger has failed to complete in his last two starts over fences and it is no surprise that he returns to hurdles following his latest heavy fall and a confidence booster back on the flat but he is hard to back with confidence even being dropped into a seller and preference is for SADLER'S STAR, who gets the vote ahead of Karashar. The Evan Williams-trained gelding was well held on his reappearance last month in a handicap at Uttoxeter but the going that day was testing and he may do better on the better ground today. John Spearing's Answer Me gave little sign of encouragement on his return to action in October following a long absence of a year and looks best left out of calculations, while Sheena West's Appointment ran better in a novices' hurdle at Folkestone earlier this month and has to be respected dropped into this grade. George Baker's Sparkling Montjeu was beaten in this grade on the flat last time and is likely to have to settle for a place at best in a race taken to go to Sadler's Star. Alan King's gelding remains a maiden over hurdles but he has run some reasonable races in defeat in better grade than this and he looks worth siding with being dropped into a seller for the first time.
Sparkling Montjeu (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 9th of 18, 29l behind Captain Smoothy (10-3) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Karashar (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden and weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Mohayer (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Answer Me (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) In touch, ridden and struggling 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off 3 out, pulled up approaching last, in a race won by Tarvini (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 6f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Lord Equalizer (IRE) 80-1 (10-13) In rear, pushed along after 3rd, hampered 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Empty Sky (11-9) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Royal Rainbow 20-1 (11-8) In rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and no extra from last, 4th of 9, 10l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Sadler's Star (GER) 16-1 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 5th of 18, 8l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Sleepy Mountain 33-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, prominent, weakened 5f out, 10th of 14, 36l behind Magellan Straits (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jun '08.
Space Pirate 17-2 (11-9) Prominent, joined leader 5th, ridden to chased winner 3out, outpaced from 2out, weakend flat and lost 2 places, 4th of 10, 33l behind Nous Voila (11-3) at Fakenham 2m sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Urban Tiger (GER) 15-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, led after 5th, headed after 4 out, weakening when fell next, in a race won by Max Bygraves (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep, 12 ran.
Appointment 20-1 (10-13) With leader, jumoed slowly and reminder 1st, slightly hampered and left chasing winner 2 out, pushed along, well held and no chance well before last, 2nd of 5, 19l behind She's On The Case (10-13) at Folkestone 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy.
Maverick's Magic 66-1 (10-2) In touch, lost place when mistake 2nd, soon in rear, behind after, 6th of 9, 46l behind Beautiful Vision (11-3) at Ludlow 2m sell hdl (5) gs in Feb.
