tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, led next until after 5th, hit 3 out, soon beaten
led until 4th, led after next, headed when not fluent 3 out, led again before last, drew clear towards finish
held up on outside, outpaced from 5th, stayed on flat, no impression
tracked leader until after 3rd, prominent, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra towards finish
held up, outpaced after 5th, stayed on approaching last, almost got 2nd, no impression on winner
held up, headway after 5th, hung left and no impression after 3 out, jumped right and weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 5th, beaten 3 out
Jim Best must be despairing of ever getting a race out of Only Hope, who looked all over the winner over C&D earlier this month only get to touched off by the rallying winner close home. The mare is 7lb higher now while Goat Castle is proving equally frustrating. Decent Lord ran well for a long way over a longer trip here on his reappearance and should strip fitter today but there should be more to come from SUSTAINABILITY now that he's got his head in front. Last month's Hereford success came in only his fourth start over hurdles and he may well be capable of defying the weight rise. Flora's Pride is gradually toward a decent mark and may be best of the rest.
Torran Sound 16-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 13, 35l behind Black Mac (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Sustainability (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake and pushed along 4th, headway under pressure after 2 out, 3rd and still 2 lengths to find when hit last, strong run flat to lead final 100 yards, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov beating Aureate (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Flora's Pride 14-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 24l behind Zefooha (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-120) (3yo+) (4) gs.
Only Hope 9-4fav (11-10) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 4th, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, led when mistake last, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, nk behind Rigid (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-95) (3yo+) (5) sft.
Goat Castle (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, closed after 6th, ridden after next, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Free Speech (11-7) at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Decent Lord (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway after 7th, went 2nd 3 out until before next, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 34l behind Black Mac (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Echo Dancer 3-1 (11-0) Held up, mistake 4th, headway 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon beaten, no impression when mistake next, 4th of 7, 9l behind Rigid (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-95) (3yo+) (5) sft.
