pulled hard, led before 2nd, headed before last, kept on same pace
tracked leader until ridden and weakened after 2 out
led early, remained prominent, led again before last, soon clear, eased close home
held up, driven and headway 2 out, weakened when not fluent last
held up, outpaced after 2 out
pulled hard, held up, weakened before 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon under pressure and beaten, hung right approaching last
A small field line up for this selling hurdle and Zeloso looks to have a very good chance of taking the honours, Maria Bonita and Chariot should also get involved in the finish. The Milton Harris trained gelding just had to be pushed out to land a similar race at Market Rasen last time. That was after showing plenty of promise in better company and he looks set to go in again this afternoon. Maria Bonita chased home Before The Mast in a Uttoxeter seller last time and should go close here although, that winner is also trained by Harris so he should know how he stands with this rival. Chariot rarely runs two races alike but does have claims on his close up fourth behind Wardash at Fakenham in October. Lovely Lulu is the only other one of any interest and so it looks an easy task for Zeloso who is a confident choice.
Rocket Bleu (FR) 20-1 (10-4) Mid-division, one pace from 3 out, 7th of 14, 10l behind Lord Lington (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Oct.
Cybele Eria (FR) 50-1 (10-1) Led, ridden 4th, soon headed and weakened, 11th of 12, well behind Nagano (10-13) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft.
Zeloso 7-2 (10-10) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden to lead last, pushed out, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gs beating Joe Malone (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Chariot (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, led 5th, ridden, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 24l behind Dancinginthestreet (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gd in Nov.
Maria Bonita (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Held up, headway after 7th, outpaced after next, rallied approaching last, kept on flat, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Before The Mast (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gs in Nov.
Zahunda (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Pulled hard, held up, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 9th of 12, 48l behind Chickapeakray (9-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gd in Nov.
Lovely Lulu 7-1 (10-7) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden and not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, mistake last, 5th of 12, 15l behind Before The Mast (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gs in Nov.
