tracked leaders on outside, driven and lost place 5th, behind when blundered 2 out
tracked leader, led 4th, made rest, drew clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, easily
mid-division, mistake 4th, outpaced next, never near leaders
mid-division, outpaced when hit 5th, never on terms
chased leaders, lost place 5th, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd before last, no chance with winner
towards rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
jinked and unseated rider start
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway into mid-division 5th, ridden 2 out, 5th and beaten when fell last
in rear, driven 3 out, switched outside and stayed on under pressure from next, left 5th when hampered last, never nearer
tracked leader, chased winner when mistake and reminders 5th, outpaced before 2 out, lost 2nd before last, no extra
always behind
in touch, chased leading pair 6th, soon ridden, stayed on same under pressure from 2 out, no impression
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace, never on terms
led to 4th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off 2 out
mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
Eve Johnson Houghton's Mr Deal has run some reasonable races in defeat of late but the four-year-old remains a maiden and is likely to still be so after this race with a better bet looking to be SKYE BUT N BEN, who gets the vote over Golden Square. Tony Carroll's gelding was good value for his win at Warwick in November when readily getting the better of Rampant Ronnie and he has an obvious chance off just a 2lb higher mark today but he has been below par in his last two starts. Michael Blanshard's Brad's Luck has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated after an encouraging start over hurdles at Wincanton in December and now looks best watched, while the Evan Williams-trained New Rackheath has failed to complete in two of his last three starts and is hard to recommend. Caroline Dyson's Boomtown and the Michael Mullineaux-trained Wee Ziggy are others to consider but preference is for Skye But N Ben. Jim Best's gelding has been running consistently well in sellers in recent outings and looks to have been found a suitable opportunity to open his account over hurdles in a handicap that should not take much winning.
Golden Square 5-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, led until 2nd, prominent until weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 21l behind Nono Le Sage (9-13) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Skye But N Ben 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 6th, hit 3 out, hard ridden flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Hammer (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f Selling Handicap Hurdle (0-90) (4-7yo) (5) gs.
Just Mossie 17-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden when blundered 2 out, modest 4th when stumbled last, 4th of 12, 20l behind Tora Petcha (10-9) at Stratford 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Brad's Luck (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, not fluent 8th, not fluent next and soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 15, well behind Restart (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Boomtown 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd and mistake 5th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 10, 27l behind Hiddensee (9-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Mr Deal 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, struggling and no chance when hampered 2 out, 7th of 10, 39l behind Hiddensee (9-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Rossbrin (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mistake 1st, always behind, 9th of 14, 40l behind Promising Anshan (10-10) at Southwell 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Rustler 100-1 (10-8) Mid-division, weakened 2 out, 11th of 14, well behind Manjam (10-10) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Wee Ziggy 10-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon every chance, stayed on well, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Extreme Conviction (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
New Rackheath (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Chased leader until 2nd, prominent until weakened approachong 4 out, blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Star Galaxy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Mr Tambourine Man (IRE) 80-1 (10-9) In rear, blundered badly 8th, 6th of 8, 39l behind Dishdasha (10-12) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gd in Apr '09.
Ghaill Force 16-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, disputing modest 5th when blundered 3 out, one pace and no impression after, 6th of 11, 29l behind Via Galilei (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Secret Cavern (USA) 7-1 (11-3) Held up, effort 4 out, weakened 2 out, behind when unseated rider last, in a race won by Satindra (11-6) at Fakenham 2m cnd hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Risk Challenge (USA) 18-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Sun Quest (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f sell hdl (5) sft in Dec '08, 13 ran.
Send For Tim (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 7th, 5th of 6, 38l behind Global Strategy (10-13) at Plumpton 2m sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
Laybach (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) In touch, not fluent 2nd, lost place after next, soon ridden, lost touch approaching 5th, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Carrig An Uisce (11-12) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Mar.
