tracked leader, weakened after 4 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, went 2nd approaching and hit last, kept on
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
held up, chased leaders approaching 4th, no impression from 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until approaching last, one pace
held up mid-division, chased winner from 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
made all, kept on well
always towards rear
held up, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out
held up, ridden 4 out, stayed on from last
held up, weakened after 4 out
CALZAGHE has been kept very busy of late and although he has more on his plate today, we will put him forward to get the better of Sea Cove and Haka Dancer. A 14lb rise in the weights will make life tough for Calzaghe but he won with plenty in hand at Kempton last time and he does have the talented 7lb claimer Giles Hawkins doing the steering once again today. This will not be a walk in the park, but he might just have enough in hand to win again. Sea Cove ran well at Carlisle last month but she ran no sort of race at Market Rasen last time. The drop in trip will help her here and if she can bounce back from that disappointment last time she could give our selection a race. Haka Dancer has only managed one win over hurdles so far but he ran his best race for a while from out of the handicap over this course and distance last week and if he can build on that he would have a big chance. Jim Goldie does well with his runners here so Grand Diamond is worth a look, but he was well beaten in a selling hurdle at Kelso last time and he is hard to fancy off the back of that run. This looks a good opportunity for Calzaghe to continue his hot streak.
Haka Dancer (USA) 50-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed after 4 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on to lead again narrowly when not fluent last, soon headed and no extra, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Mesbaah (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Grand Diamond (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Held up, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 13, 48l behind Bivouac (10-12) at Kelso 2m hcp chs 0-105 (5) gs.
Flying Doctor 22-1 (10-13) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 13th of 17, 43l behind Viscount Rossini (10-10) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Best Horse (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 12th of 16, 26l behind King In Waiting (11-0) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Bocciani (GER) 50-1 (11-2) Led 6th, chased winner, lost place 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 12th of 13, well behind Still At Lunch (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Piccolo Pride 200-1 (10-9) Close up, challenged 2 out, no extra flat, 7th of 12, 12l behind Skylancer (11-5) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Sea Cove 16-1 (10-6) Towards rear, hit 3 out, never dangerous, 12th of 14, 30l behind River Logic (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy.
High Stand Lad 5-1fav (10-3) Behind, effort approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 12th of 15, 21l behind Pontop (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Sir Quigley (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Always behind, 9th of 15, 26l behind Etoile d'Or (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Isidore Bonheur (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, unseated rider last, in a race won by Greengables (10-8) at Sligo 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-95 in Oct, 15 ran.
Hernando Cortes 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 11, well behind Newgate (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Realism (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Etoile d'Or (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs, 15 ran.
Mr Midaz 20-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, ridden after 7th, never dangerous, 7th of 13, 31l behind Ruby Valentine (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Jul.
Calzaghe (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders after next, led approaching 2 out, cleared before last easily, won at Kempton 2m Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (3yo+) (4) gs beating Waarid (10-13) by 9l, 13 ran.
