mid-division, smooth headway from halfway to lead 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon one pace
mid-division, lost place after 6th, pulled up before next
always behind, beaten from 7th
mid-division, weakened 7th
in touch, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace
always behind, pulled up before 7th
tracked leaders, weakened from 7th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, weakened from 7th
behind, not fluent, headway from 6th, ridden and weakened from 3 out
The Shy Man has a double penalty to carry for his wins at Sedgefield, a penalty that will make things harder for him today, but George Moore's gelding is hard to oppose and gets the vote ahead of General Ledger and Valentines Lady. The last mentioned showed decent form in bumpers last term including in the valuable event at Aintree won by Turbo Linn and has to be respected but lack of hurdling experience is of concern. Bumper winner Breaking Storm has shown respectable form over hurdles but may again have to settle for minor honours, while Lockstockandbarrel was still going well before falling four out last time but that may have effected his confidence. Howard Johnson's General Ledger has shown decent form in bumpers and again showed a decent level of form on his hurdling debut at Carlisle last month and he has to be respected. The Shy Man has solid claims though and he is preferred in a potentially decent contest.
The Shy Man (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead 3 out, drew clear between last 2, pushed out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May beating He's A Hotshot (11-5) by 11l, 9 ran.
Breaking Storm (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 13l behind Oxford de Lagarde (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Buckstruther (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway under pressure after 4 out, no extra from 2 out, 4th of 8, 16l behind Megaton (11-10) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (4) gf in May.
Craiglands (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 16, 17l behind Frankie Figg (11-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Daniel's Dream 80-1 (10-12) Towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Frankie Figg (10-12) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) gf in Oct, 11 ran.
General Ledger (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-0) Led until 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Mr Preacher Man (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Lockstockandbarrel (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Made most until fell 4 out in race won by Leac An Scail (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf, 12 ran.
More Shennanigans 200-1 (10-11) In rear and mistakes, behind when pulled up in race won by Mr Preacher Man (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Spivitus 16-1 (11-0) Held up, struggling from 7th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Scott's Mill (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 1f amt hcp hdl (5) gd, 15 ran.
Cupid's Mission (IRE) 80-1 (10-6) In touch, headway halfway to track leaders, left close 2nd 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Harry Flashman (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
More Equity 10-1 (10-2) In touch, headway and effort after 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 14, 12l behind Harry Flashman (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
New Source (IRE) 100-1 (10-1) Behind, ridden halfway, stayed on final 2f, never nearer, 7th of 13, 20l behind Joseph (11-4) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Valentines Lady (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway halfway, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 20, 15l behind Turbo Linn (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f mrs lst nhf (1) gd in Apr.
