in touch, chased winner before 2 out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace
led, driven and headed after 3 out, soon weakened
always prominent, led after 3 out, ridden out, stayed on well
in touch, chased leaders 6th, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, slow 4th, beaten before 3 out
took keen hold tracking leaders, jumped left 3rd, effort 4 out, weakened quickly after next
slow 1st, mid-division, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge
GOLDEN HOOF has come up short on the two occasions he's been tried at a higher level but he's won three times in this grade and, with Eddie Linehan taking off 7lb, can defy his double penalty. The danger may be Watered Silk, who receives 12lb and upset hot favourite Bullet Street over 2m1f here just under two weeks ago. The four-year-olds Halogen and Asteroid Belt had decent form in the autumn and both were reappearing after a lengthy absence at Wetherby. The former fell but Tim Vaughan's charge finished second and looks a bigger threat than Outback.
Golden Hoof (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Towards rear, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Close Touch (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f NH Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4-7yo) (1) hvy in Mar, 16 ran.
Halogen 5-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, in 3rd and held when fell last, in a race won by Jimmie Brown (10-6) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd, 10 ran.
Watered Silk 7-2 (10-13) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led 5th, shaken up and went clear flat, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Bullet Street (10-10) by 6l, 10 ran.
Asteroid Belt (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, blundered 3rd, not fluent 4th, challenge 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on and always held from last, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Jimmie Brown (10-6) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd.
Outback (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 6, 34l behind Kashmir Peak (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Scorer (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to 6th, soon struggling, behind from 2 out, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Urcalin (10-11) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
There's No Rules 40-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, mistakes 2nd and 3rd, progress into 5th before 2 out, never any chance with leaders, 5th of 10, 28l behind Watered Silk (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Yazdi (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, strugging soon after 4 out, tailed off when went left final 2, 7th of 9, well behind Salmanazar (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
