towards rear, chased leaders approaching 7th, ridden to lead briefly approaching 2 out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, blundered 5th, headway 6th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, led after 3 out, briefly headed approaching next, drew clear approaching last
held up towards rear, weakened after 6th, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway from 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch, weakened from 5th, tailed off and pulled up soon after
close up, led approaching 3 out, headed soon after, soon weakened
in rear, hit 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 5th
led, reminders after 6th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
with leaders, weakened 5th, ridden approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
COMMAND MARSHALL is the only course and distance winner in this Handicap Hurdle field and after some improving runs gets the nod ahead of Magic Merlin and Always Cruising. Far from spectacular in his recent efforts the selection is at least holding his form well at present and showed his true colours with a couple of wins in the Autumn. He obviously likes it here and returning to his best trip he has every chance in a race that won't take much winning. Magic Merlin ran well over inadequate trips on his last two runs and should be seen to better effect with a greater emphasis on stamina off a fair enough rating. Always Cruising needed his first run for nearly a year last time and with that start likely to bring him on is now down to a realistic mark. Kilshannig was a good winner at Southwell two starts back and the soft ground may have stopped him running up to his best last time so if fit on his return to action he has a chance under this burden. Randomer is unexposed and it will be interesting to see how he goes on his handicap bow but with him not obviously thrown in at the weights we prefer Command Marshall.
Kilshannig (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up, headway after 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 13, 43l behind Meet Me At Dawn (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Always Cruising (USA) 33-1 (11-7) Always behind, 7th of 12, 36l behind Cappagh (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Silver Phoenix 12-1 (10-2) Towards rear, headway approaching 5th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, soon chased winner until hit 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Entertain Me (10-7) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gf.
Command Marshal (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway when jumped slowly 7th, soon lost place, switched right and tried to close approaching 3 out, no impression, left 4th just before last, 4th of 11, 12l behind Red Not Blue (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Randomer 33-1 (10-4) Led until 3 out, soon ridden, lost place before next, rallied approaching last, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Ardmaddy (10-7) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Man Overboard 33-1 (10-4) In rear, struggling from 5th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mhilu (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd, 10 ran.
Magic Merlin 8-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, no impression, left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Danse Macabre (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Apr.
Native American 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 5th of 12, 14l behind Brinkmanship (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Aug '07.
A Haon A Do (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Tracked leader until approaching 5th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, 45l behind J'adhere (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Capeleira (IRE) 33-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, hit 6th and driven, struggling after 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Dantari (11-4) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar '09.
Fantastic Morning 33-1 (10-0) Always in rear, tailed off 6th, 8th of 14, 40l behind Meet The Legend (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May '09.
Himba 20-1 (10-0) Led until 2nd, handy, lost touch from 8th, tailed off, 5th of 7, 34l behind Days Of Pleasure (11-0) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
