made all, quickened after 3 out, hit last, ran on strongly
tracked winner, effort 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
in touch, hit and lost place 4th, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened next
mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, headway before last, stayed on well, never on terms
tracked leaders, hard driven 4 out, soon outpaced, headway 2 out, chased winner and mistake last, no extra
held up mid-division, weakened 3 out
tracked winner, hard ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, under pressure 5th, soon beaten
held up in touch, headway 4 out, weakened after next
held up mid-division, headway approaching 7th, chased winner after 3 out, awkward 2 out, soon no extra
held up in touch, chased leaders 3out, soon outpaced, stayed on approaching last, never able to challenge
behind, headway 3 out, soon no impression
A tough, competitive handicap hurdle where we will take a chance on DOVER'S HILL to beat Pipe Banner and Galaxy Rock. The last-named just appears to be in the grip of the assessor since taking a similar race at Ffos Las in December. He showed up well on decent ground at Doncaster last time, for which he has gone up another 2lbs, and although we can see him going well he might just come up short. Pipe Banner represents powerful connections and was probably hampered by genuine soft ground at Fakenham last time out, having landed a maiden prior to that. He begins handicapping from a mark of 122 and should be able to show more again today. Woolfall Treasure has conditions to suit and stays well. He put up a good effort behind Alfie Sherrin at Newbury last time and looks a leading player in this. With the yard in great shape, Lead On will probably be plenty straight enough to do himself justice after an absence of 14 months, and he has conditions and trip to suit, but we will take the chance on Dover's Hill. Mary Hambro's eight-year-old goes well here and has gone close to winning a couple of races in recent outings over fences, until the obstacles got in the way. Now switched back to hurdles, this trip will be ideal, and in fact he won on good ground over course and distance last spring. He looks likely to be a value bet and we will side with him.
Alderluck (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Soon in rear, struggling after 6th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Beshabar (9-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Tobago Bay 14-1 (11-1) Prominent, raced keenly, led before 2nd, headed when blundered 3f out, weakened approaching last, 12th of 14, 22l behind Templer (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
Lead On (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Towards rear, mistake 1st, weakened 3 out, 14th of 18, well behind Lough Derg (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl Gr2 (1) gs in Jan '09.
Woolfall Treasure 16-1 (10-6) Held up, towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders from next, kept on, one pace flat, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Alfie Sherrin (11-4) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 13-2 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased winner and not fluent approaching last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Quentin Collonges (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
Magical Legend 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced halfway, some headway before 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 11, 26l behind Elzahann (10-11) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Dover's Hill 5-4fav (11-0) Not fluent, made most until mistake and headed 5th, led again 7th, clear after 4 out, pressed 2 out, pushed along in narrow lead when blundered and fell last, in a race won by Vodka Brook (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chase (4) sft, 7 ran.
Captain Americo (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, weakening when hit 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Fredo (10-11) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Come Out Firing (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, chased winner until well before 2 out, weakened and no impression on front pair from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Duke Of Lucca (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) sft.
Pipe Banner 9-2 (11-8) Tracked winner, ridden 3 out, hit next and lost 2nd, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Fabulous Fred (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Feb.
Midas Way 18-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, lost touch 9th, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Quinz (10-10) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Lupanar (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Jumped left and not fluent, held up in 4th, went 3rd approaching 8th until next, last when slithered on landing 10th and nearly unseated rider, great recovery, soon weakened, last of 4, well behind Sound Stage (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gs.
Laskari (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, no extra from last, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Ballybriggan (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd.
