tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 2 out, behind and pulled up before last
tracked leader, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on under pressure flat
led, ridden after 2 out, headed last, kept on under pressure flat
towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway after 3 out, effort when mistake 2 out, soon beaten
in touch until weakened approaching 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, effort and chance approaching last, one pace flat
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, smooth headway after 2 out, led last, ridden out
Crunchy can land a weak contest ahead of the likes of Shady Man and Allegedly Red. The last named hails from a stable that had a winner on the Flat at Southwell on Thursday and has a little bit of form to his name, so may be capable of making the frame. As for finding the winner, Brian Ellison's Crunchy makes more appeal. Having posted a couple of fair efforts at Wetherby and Kelso last year, his form deteriorated until only last week when he finished third in a class D novices' hurdle at Market Rasen. This is a big drop in grade, and if he improves only a small amount, a return to the winner's enclosure is on the cards. Shady Man has disappointed since finishing ninth to Thisthatandtother at Wincanton for Henrietta Knight two years ago, but managed to finally open his account in similar company to this at Market Rasen a week ago. Claimed by Mick Easterby afterwards, he has to give weight away to Crunchy who is the pick.
