tracked leaders, headway 3 out, joined leaders next, going well approaching last, driven out flat
behind when saddle slipped 1st, pulled up before next
behind, outpaced halfway, kept on same pace from 2 out, never on terms
behind, headway 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
raced keenly in rear, mistake 2 out, soon tailed off
mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on to lead after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra
raced keenly, led and clear until stumbled and fell 4th
held up in rear when fell 2nd
held up in rear when brought down 2nd
chased leaders, left 2nd 4th, headway to dispute lead 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway 2 out, weakened approaching last
soon behind, lost touch 3rd, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
Capable but frustrating on the level, Transit seems to be following a similar route (career wise) over timber as well and cannot be backed with any confidence, so we prefer to side with Liberty Seeker, who gets the verdict over Celtic Blaze. The last mentioned remains unexposed over hurdles after just two starts last term when finding one too good on each occasion. Brian Rothwell's filly should strip fitter for a recent return on the flat and rates a bigger danger than Transit, who continues to disappoint and remains a maiden under both codes. Michaels Dream has been on the downgrade for some time on the flat and is probably best left out of calculations, while Len Lungo's Hetland Hill seems to be one of the stable's lesser lights. Very little of the remainder make much appeal and, if Liberty Seeker can reproduce the same level of form that he showed over course and distance on his hurdles debut over course and distance last month, Alan Swinbank's gelding should take plenty of beating. Bought out of Mick Channon's stable to go hurdling, the son of Machiavellian made a pleasing start to his hurdles debut when belying odds of 25/1 and is taken to follow up that win.
