held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, led before last, edged left close home, all out
mid-division, ridden when bumped 3 out, soon beaten
prominent, led after 5th, blundered 2 out, headed when not fluent last, held when not much room and eased close home
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
led until 2nd, stayed prominent, mistake 5th, ridden when pecked 3 out, hung left thereafter, stayed on towards finish
prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 3rd, headed after 5th, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 6th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, no impression after
in rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake when well beaten 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 5th, ridden when jumped left 3 out, stayed on from next, never nearer
HIDDEN looks to have a good opportunity to open his account. It was soft ground when showing a big improvement to finish second at Bangor last time and that looks the best recent form on offer. Excelsior Academy was superior to the selection on the Flat but has failed to figure in a couple of starts over timber so far, while Boston Blue looked held when falling at Doncaster after finishing fourth at the same track before that. Mistoffelees is another to disappoint last time having ran well on his penultimate start over a longer trip here, but Pittodrie Star could improve with a recent hurdling debut under his belt.
Boston Blue 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, effort towards stands side approaching 3 out, soon switched left, 5th and one pace when fell next, in a race won by Open Hearted (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Excelsior Academy 12-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, hampered 3rd, headway 5th, not fluent 2 out, no extra when not fluent last, 4th of 12, 23l behind Balder Succes (11-0) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Hidden 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 4th, chased winner after last, no impression, 2nd of 15, 9l behind Rowan Tiger (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Mistoffelees 11-4fav (10-12) Led to 4th, remained close up, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 22l behind Aegean Destiny (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Pittodrie Star (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, switched right before 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 22l behind Gores Island (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Robougg (IRE) 200-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 1st, losing place when jumped slowly 5th, soon behind, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind Joseph Lister (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Staccato Valtat (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 6th, behind from 4 out, 7th of 15, well behind Hinton Indiana (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Willard 80-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, no impression, 6th of 11, 20l behind Cousin Khee (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs.
Circus Star (USA) 100-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, led, jinked 1st, tried to run out and unseated rider next, in a race won by Crafty Roberto (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft, 6 ran.
