hit 1st, keen hold in touch, effort after 2 out, chased winner under pressure last, no impression
always behind, struggling 6th, tailed off
chased leaders in 4th place, weakened 2 out, well behind when jumped badly right last
held up towards rear, headway to chase leader between last 2, mistake and weakened last
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
held up in mid-division, steady headway to chase leading trio between last 2, effort on outside to lead approaching last, stayed on well flat
keen hold in touch, headway to join leaders 6th, led 3 out, headed and weakened approaching last
not jump well and always behind
led until mistake and headed 3 out, weakened between last 2
mid-division until ridden and weakened 5th, tailed off
tracked leader until mistake 2 out, weakened between last 2
not fluent, held up towards rear, struggling from 6th, tailed off
Border Castle seemed to handle plenty of cut in the ground when making a winning debut at Haydock in December and may be worth another chance following a disappointing effort at Exeter last time; he gets the vote ahead of Glimmer of Light and Wellbeing in a decent race for the track. Wellbeing has clearly had his problems but Phillip Hobbs has been patient with the former Henry Cecil-trained inmate and he cannot be ruled out with his yard now back among the winners again. Stablemate Onward To Glory was not as good as Wellbeing on the level and it will be interesting to see what he does with a few flights of hurdles in front of him. Martin Pipe's Topkat showed improved form at Taunton last time and has to be respected along with White On Black, who lost no caste in defeat behind the useful Straw Bear here last time. Sole Agent is far from certain to confirm recent course and distance form with Spear Thistle on the revised terms and a bigger threat may prove to be Alan King's Glimmer of Light, who showed improved form at Plumpton last time. Border Castle was relatively unexposed on the level though and on the form of his debut effort over hurdles, he looks the one to be on.
Border Castle 8-11fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to chase leading pair approaching 3 out, held when mistake last, 3rd of 18, 3 1/2l behind Dare Too Dream (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Esperance (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, held up, headway 4f out, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 22l behind River of Diamonds (9-6) at Brighton 1m 2f sll (6) gd in Aug (Flat).
Glimmer of Light (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, joined next, headed soon after last, not quicken, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Temoin (11-4) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Onward To Glory (USA) 11-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 4f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra, 4th of 13, 1l behind Merrymaker (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp (E3) pol in Nov '04 (Flat).
Ridjit (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 16, 38l behind Molostiep (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs.
Saltrio 100-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden 6f out, soon weakened, 25th of 36, 41l behind Landing Light (9-4) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (B) gf in Oct '03 (Flat).
Topkat (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up , stayed on strongly from 2 out, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Siberian Highness (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Wellbeing 5-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, led after 6th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 16, 14l behind Rosecliff (10-7) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Wiggy Smith 14-1 (8-8) Mid-division, chased leaders 2f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Clipperdown (8-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Sept (Flat).
Sole Agent (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mostly tracked leader, led 2 out, well clear when eased near finish, won at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Spear Thistle (11-2) by 3l, 13 ran.
Outside Half (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Geeveem (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Spear Thistle 8-1 (11-2) Held up, effort and hit 2 out, stayed on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Sole Agent (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Murrieta 16-1 (9-0) Keen, held up, ridden and headway on inside over 4f out to chase leaders, one pace final 2f, 8th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Tharua (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 4f banded stk (7) pol in Dec (Flat).
White On Black (GER) 18-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed well before last, soon beaten, 4th of 15, 20l behind Straw Bear (11-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
