always behind, ridden and struggling 4 out
chased leaders in 4th, led travelling well 2 out, kept on gamely under pressure until weakened final 100 yards
in touch, not fluent 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression from next
raced wide, always behind, under pressure and struggling from 4 out
in touch, driven along approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, no chance with leading pair
blundered 1st, held up in touch, weakened after 4 out, well behind when hit next
chased leaders, ridden to challenge from 3 out, upside last, hard driven flat, stayed on to take lead final 100 yards
led, ridden and headed when hit 2 out, weakened between last 2, no chance when blundered last
chased leader, until hit 3 out and weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression from 3 out
took keen hold early and settled last, headway on inside from 2 out, soon one pace, no impression before last
Motorway is the stand-out bet of the day in the closing handicap hurdle; the main dangers are Pepe Galvez and Sun King. Trainer Philip Hobbs considered Motorway to be one of his best chances at the Cheltenham Festival but he failed to make the cut in the County Hurdle. He needs to win here to get into the John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle which is run on Grand National day. He was a faller last time out, but prior to that he had been impressive when winning at Cheltenham and over this course and distance last November. Pepe Galvez finished ten lengths behind Motorway on that occasion and is now 12lbs better off but preference is for the winner that day who is highly-rated by his in-form trainer. Of the others, Sun King makes the journey down from Keith Reveley's north-Yorkshire yard and he will be looking to follow up a recent Musselburgh win. He will run off a featherweight but he will have a lot to do if he is going to beat our selection Motorway.
Cloudy Grey (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Behind, hit 5th, headway approaching 2 out, never reached leaders and no danger, 7th of 21, 7l behind Victram (9-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Bound 5-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, blundered and fell at the 3rd in race won by Emperors Guest (11-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Jan '05, 4 ran.
Arrayou (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened, 6th of 15, 31l behind Hoh Viss (10-11) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Silver Charmer 18-1 (10-6) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on from next, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Rooftop Protest (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (B) gd in Sept.
Pepe Galvez (SWE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, hit 6th, kept on under pressure approaching last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Afrad (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Black Hills 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, hit 4th, headway to chase leaders 6th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 8th of 15, 21l behind Mister Quasimodo (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Motorway (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Mistakes 1st, tracking leaders in 3rd when fell 4 out in race won by Albarino (11-0) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Silver Prophet (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden to lead briefly approaching 3 out, hit last, one pace flat, 6th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Go For Bust (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jan.
Gift Voucher (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Sunday City (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan, 16 ran.
Sun King 12-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on flat, just held on, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb beating Saif Sareea (10-11) by a hd, 14 ran.
Dumaran (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Keltic Bard (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Jan '03, 23 ran.
