tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next
chased leaders until weakened approaching 5th, tailed off
held up behind, headway when blundered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
hit 1st, always in rear, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on strongly
led, hit 2nd, ridden and headed after 2 out, held when stumbled last
some late progress, mainly in rear
mid-division, headway after 4th, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon one pace
took keen hold in mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, staying on 5th, no chance when fell last
mid-division until not fluent 4th, soon behind
The form of NEARBY makes him stand out from the crowd for this maiden hurdle and he should be challenged closest at the finish by Kevkat and Cricket Boy. The selection looks to have found his level recently and placed second at Taunton earlier this month on soft ground. The gelding may need quicker ground to be at his best and the going here should suit. The five-year-old is from the in-form Philip Hobbs yard. Kevkat had his first start since leaving Eoin Griffin last time out. The gelding won a bumper back in 2005 and has shaped with promise in two of his three starts over hurdles. Also a three-time Flat winner, he looked interesting on that debut for David Pipe's yard coming in a close second. Pipe's other runner here, Cricket Boy ran well last time out after a long absence and connections will have been pleased with the gelding's performance, though he will need to improve on that to challenge the selection. Eddie Dowling will be ridden by champion jockey Tony McCoy which looks to be a significant booking by Gordon Elliott and the market may guide. There are a few interesting newcomers but they are best watched unless attracting support, so in what could prove to be a three horse race we side with the form of Nearby.
And Your Point Is (USA) 40-1 (11-7) Raced wide, in touch, soon driven along, ridden 7th, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Royal Hilarity (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Coup de Tabac (FR) 100-1 (11-1) Pulled early in mid-division, chased leaders 6th, hit 7th, ridden and soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Chariot Charger (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Cricket Boy 15-2 (11-3) In touch, headway after 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, well behind Aachen (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Kevkat (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up, headway from 3 out, left 2nd last, no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Indian Blood (10-6) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
My Boy Nick 12-1 (12-0) Fell 3 fell in race won by Its Not Chesnut (11-0) at Llanfrynach 3m ptp gd, 14 ran.
Nearby 5-2 (11-7) Held up, headway when hit 3 out, close 2nd, travelling well when not much room, hit 2 out, soon ridden, switched left flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind A Bit Of Fun (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Sambulando (FR) 13-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon headed and one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Key Decision (10-0) at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stk (5) fbs in Feb (Flat).
Senor Shane (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 5 out unseated rider in race won by Taipan's Way (11-12) at Limerick 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Jan, 16 ran.
Thomas Lawrence (USA) 14-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, always behind, 13th of 14, 16l behind Witchry (9-2) at Chepstow 6f app hcp (6) sft in May (Flat).
Turbo Shandy 14-1 (11-3) In touch on outside, weakening when mistake 9th, soon well behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Laharna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Eddie Dowling 10-1 (10-9) Mid-division best, no impression before 3 out, kept on one pace straight, 10th of 20, 37l behind Dundrum (11-4) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl gs.
Rampant Ronnie (USA) 25-1 (9-0) In touch, chased leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 8l behind General Tufto (8-4) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs in Feb (Flat).
Rock Peak (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden 4f out, headway under pressure 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Prairie Hawk (9-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb (Flat).
Search For Gold (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) In touch, weakened approaching 3 out, soon behind and pulled up 2 out in race won by You're The Top (11-0) at Kempton 2m nh mdn hdl (5) gd, 12 ran.
