held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon outpaced
towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
prominent, ridden to chase winner approaching last, kept on
held up in rear, ridden 2 out, soon beaten
prominent until outpaced between last 2
made all, ridden between last 2, stayed on strongly
held up, effort under pressure after 2 out, no impression flat
close up, disputed lead 2 out, weakened approaching last
Hardybuck, Moyne Pleasure and Barney look the three to concentrate on in this handicap hurdle and the narrow vote is given to Hardybuck. The selection was a good second behind It's A Roofer last time out, form that looks rock solid in the context of this race and with the drop in trip also looking to be in his favour he looks the one to be on off what looks a handy mark. Moyne Pleasure rates the main danger on his latest fourth behind Leaoun but that was over a longer trip and he is taken on with this in mind. Barney was a fair second behind Dream Castle last time out but he looks weighted up to his best. Planters Punch has dropped to a handy mark but has shown little of late so can not be put forward with any confidence. Of the remainder, Musally looks vulnerable under top weight and for the winner we return to Hardybuck.
Musally 15-2 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 12, 20l behind Michaels Dream (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Planters Punch (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Behind, ridden 4 out, never dangerous, 11th of 16, 38l behind Calculaite (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr.
Desert Nova (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced next, 5th of 15, 15l behind Folk Tune (10-7) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Moyne Pleasure (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden and one pace next, 4th of 13, 18l behind Laouen (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Apr.
Hardybuck (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Prominent, effort 2 out, soon no chance, 2nd of 8, 7l behind It's A Roofer (11-8) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Barney (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (9-8) Mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, went 2nd before next, kept on, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Dream Castle (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Royal Game 3-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, fourth and going well when hampered 2 out, stayed on to chase winner, run-in, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Beggars Cap (11-3) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
The Weaver (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Prominent, hit 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Mae Moss (9-11) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in May, 15 ran.
