prominent, mistake 4th, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
prominent, led 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, raced keenly, hampered 1st, blundered next, effort after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, blundered 1st, mistake 5th, plodded past beaten horses from 2 out, tailed off
mid-division, ridden and struggling after 5th, tailed off
made most until blundered 5th, weakened well before 2 out, tailed off
held up in rear, good headway after 5th, 4th when mistake 2 out, soon shaken up and weakened
raced keenly, mid-division, hit 4th, headway after 5th, weakened approaching last
in rear, jumped right and mistake 1st, struggling when mistake 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
hampered 1st, soon prominent, bumped 5th, every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, ridden after 5th, went 2nd between last 2, no chance with winner
in touch, led 2 out, soon clear
always towards rear, struggling after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
always behind, tailed off
prominent, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
not jumped well, hampered 1st, always behind, tailed off
McEldowney is less exposed than most of these after just two starts over hurdles and Michael Chapman's gelding has to be considered but preference is for VILLOCHELY, who gets the vote with Watch Out rated the pick of the remainder. The selection is trained by Don McCain who has his string in fine form at present and although well held in recent starts, they have been in better races than this and, dropped into a seller, Villochely looks worth supporting. Bret Maverick ran better under similarly testing conditions here last time and makes more appeal on that evidence than Richard Ford's Silver Steel who has been well held in recent starts. Gouranga ran well in a weak maiden hurdle last time but that was little better than this race, while Poliglotti has been soundly beaten in recent starts and looks best left out of calculations. Watch Out is better than he showed at Exeter last time and may do better on a more suitable surface today but marginal preference in a poor contest is for Villochely.
Watch Out 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden 8th, soon weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Acosta (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Bret Maverick (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Disputed lead, ridden and lost 2nd approaching 2 out, soon weakened, hanging left when went moderate 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Anglicisme (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Iris's Flyer 40-1 (10-3) Handy until pulled up at the 5th in race won by Youngstown (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 19 ran.
Layed Back Rocky 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Fushe Jo (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 18 ran.
Mapledurham (IRE) 22-1 (10-1) Held up, ridden and weakened from 4 out, 4th of 5, 24l behind Naughty By Nature (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
McEldowney 100-1 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 8th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on, no chance with leading trio, 4th of 7, 9l behind Toby Belch (11-4) at Ascot 3m nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Poliglotti (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, slipped on landing 6th and lost place, always in rear after, 11th of 14, 31l behind Lescer's Lad (10-9) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) hvy in Jan.
Port Erne (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold in rear, not fluent 5th, lost touch after 8th, 7th of 9, well behind Anglicisme (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Silver Steel (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Led, hit and headed 7th, ridden and weakening when blundered 4 out, 5th of 10, 45l behind Festival King (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Dec.
Spartan Encore 50-1 (10-4) Led to 3 out, weakened quickly before next, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind She's No Muppet (10-3) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Thethirdoftheforth (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, some headway after 6th, weakened into last place when fell 2 out in race won by Dee Cee Elle (10-5) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Gouranga 50-1 (11-2) Jumped slowly 1st, held up in rear, headway 5th, led after 2 out, headed last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Silk Affair (10-4) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Moonlight Music (IRE) 7-2fav (10-8) Tracked leader, weakened 5th, 9th of 17, 17l behind Markila (11-11) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Night Reveller (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Behind, outpaced 4 out, stayed on under pressure from last, never near leaders, 4th of 8, 16l behind Alto Stratus (10-11) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Aug.
Pugnacity 250-1 (10-8) Mid-division, weakened when hit 4 out, 14th of 15, well behind Mighty Moon (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Villochely (FR) 8-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 16, 29l behind Pearl (10-13) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Silver Spruce 16-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, raced keenly after 2f, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 7th of 13, 3l behind Prince Rossi (9-6) at Kempton 1m stk (7) pol in Jan (Flat).
Ricci de Mare 200-1 (10-4) Chased leader from 1st, led after 3rd, headed next, ridden and close 3rd when blundered 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Silk Affair (10-4) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
