tracked leader, led after 1st until 2nd, led next, clear approaching last, eased towards finish
in rear, ridden and lost touch after 4th, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, lost place 3rd, outpaced approaching 2 out, soon hung left, rallied when went left and blundered last, took 3rd post
prominent, went 2nd when not fluent 2 out, every chance on long run between last 2, weakened last
led until after 1st, led 2nd until next, ridden approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with winner, lost 2 places flat
held up, keen early, headway on long run from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with eased down winner
mid-division, headway on outside 4th, weakened on long run from 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway after 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
John Llewellyn's Salontyre won with plenty in hand when successful at Bangor recently and he has to be respected following that performance but his main rival in the race fell at the last and he may be flattered by the margin of success so a 10lb rise since then looks harsh and preference is for ROTHRES, who gets the vote ahead of Anay Turge. Nigel Hawke's gelding was still going well when falling heavily four out at Exeter last time and he has claims provided that he is none the worse for that fall having been running consistently well in defeat prior to that. Bundle Up won a claiming hurdle here well enough in November but has disappointed in handicaps since then so may be best watched now, while Jim Old's Gunnasayso has generally been disappointing this term but the yard's runners are in good from now. Oscar Gogo has not troubled the judge since making a winning debut in a Kelso bumper back in May 2007 so looks best watched in a race taken to go to Rothres. Rob Dickin's mare ran below par at Bangor last time on good to soft ground but had run much better on more testing ground prior to that and he looks worth siding with on ground conditions that suit.
Oscar Gogo (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, weakening and behind from 5th, 10th of 15, well behind Six Day War (11-6) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec '08.
Bundle Up 9-1 (10-4) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, kept on well from last, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 5l behind Empty Sky (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rockandahardplace (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Prince Geeno (11-9) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Salontyre (GER) 9-4fav (9-9) Held up, closed 2nd, lost place after 4th, outpaced from next, rallied approaching 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, led narrowly when left well clear last, ran on strongly, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs beating Reland (11-7) by 17l, 6 ran.
Sawpit Supreme 5-1fav (11-8) Held up in touch, tailed off 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Home She Goes (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m Mares Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (4yo+) (4) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Rothres (FR) 5-1 (9-13) Close up on outside, lost place 6th, no danger after, 6th of 12, 36l behind Ifandbutwhy (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (4) gs.
Anay Turge (FR) 7-2fav (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 7th, narrowly headed when fell 4 out, in a race won by Sea Saffron (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft, 10 ran.
Gunnasayso 5-1fav (10-11) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, faded before next, 6th of 14, 20l behind Letham Island (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Stafford Charlie 66-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Graysland (9-12) at Ffos Las 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
