in touch, not fluent 3rd, ridden and weakened 8th
mid-divison, mistake 4th, ridden and held from 4 out
in touch, took closer order 8th, tracked leader 4 out, stayed on to lead line
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden and weakened 4 out
led, headed approaching 5th, losing place when pulled up quickly approaching 8th
mid-divsion, steady headway after 8th, in 4th and held when stumbled after 3 out and unseated rider
towards rear, tailed off 8th
never a factor
tracked leader, led approaching 5th, mistake and reminder 8th, ridden approaching last, weakening when headed line
towards rear, plugged on
mid-division, headway under pressure 7th, left poor 3rd 3 out, one pace
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden 6th, some progress when carried out and unseated rider approaching 8th
mid-division, hit 5th, soon behind and pulled up approaching 8th
Nonrunner
A wide open handicap hurdle where Earth Planet, who could potentially be very leniently treated, gets the vote with Natoumba and Jim Bobs Girl selected for minor honours. The selection makes his handicap debut after finishing an 11l second behind the exciting Cryptic at Wincanton, a race that confirms he has the beating of Sharajan. He did get within 4l of Cryptic in November off level weights in November and off a mark of 114 he makes a lot of appeal. Natoumba is another contesting handicaps for the first time and off a light weight and with conditions to suit has to be respected along with Jim Bobs Girl who has been reverting between hurdles and chasing. Up a massive 35lb for a second placing in a novice hurdle, she has shown herself to be competitive off her new mark and with a capable 7lb claimer on board she can get in the mix. Stop The Show and Orchard King are others to consider but Earth Planet could be well handicapped and is our selection.
Ballyshan (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Led, not fluent 1st, headed before next, driven 8th, weakened before next, 8th of 13, well behind Iwillrememberyou (11-4) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
Sharajan (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 30l behind Cryptic (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Stop The Show (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Held up, headway 7th, ridden approaching last, led flat, kept on, won at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Ommega (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Earth Planet (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 7th, headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon held, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Cryptic (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Celtic Major (IRE) 6-4 (10-12) Led until fell in race won by Never So Blue (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Sydney (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Towards rear, headway 6th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind Khasab (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan.
Gala Evening 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division until weakened 6th, 11th of 17, well behind Irish Legend (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Rusty Red (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 12th, soon ridden, weakened 4 out, left poor 4th 3 out, challenging for 3rd when fell at the last in race won by Even More (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Glen Omen (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Always behind, 11th of 15, 44l behind Jackie Boy (10-10) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Tarateeno 50-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway 3 out, plugged on, 5th of 13, 7l behind Pocket Too (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Jim Bobs Girl (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after next, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Dancing Dasi (10-11) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gs.
Carew Lad 40-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, blundered 7th, ridden next, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 15, well behind Commander Vic (11-1) at Taunton 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Natoumba (FR) 17-2 (11-6) Mid-division, under pressure 8th, headway to chase leaders 3 out, stayed on, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Blaze Ahead (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Padre (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Keen, held up, ridden, lost touch from 4 out, pulled up last pulled up 2 out in race won by Chief Yeoman (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) sft in Feb '07, 7 ran.
Orchard King (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Always prominent, not fluent 8th, led 3 out, mistake and headed last, one pace flat, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Cardinal Spirit (11-5) at Doncaster 3m mdn hdl (4) gd.
