mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, led 6th, strongly pressed from 3 out, driven flat, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway when mistake 5th, outpaced next, not fluent 3 out, no impression after
led until 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, keen early, soon steadied in touch, not fluent 4th, strong challenge from 3 out, ridden flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, hit 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
always in rear, not fluent 2nd, behind from 5th, hanging right on bend approaching 2 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 5th, weakened 6th, tailed off
mistakes, always behind, lost touch before 5th, pulled up after
held up towards rear on outside, ridden after 4th, lost touch before next, soon pulled up
in touch, jumped slowly 4th, weakening when fell 5th
took keen hold, tracked leader until approaching 3 out, soon weakened
A quality start to the day sees the verdict go to COURT IN MOTION ahead of Peveril and Sandynow. Court In Motion was one of the unluckiest losers of the season when stumbling on the flat at Exeter having jumped the final flight of hurdles with a commanding lead. Prior to that he had caught the eye behind the exciting Oscar Whisky in a Newbury bumper and he's a horse of some potential. This race is stronger than the one he dominated at Exeter but he has the ability to cope. The main threat should come from the doubly penalised Peveril who was most impressive when winning at the track over two furlongs further earlier in the month; the drop back in trip shouldn't pose any problems for the progressive gelding who could have one eye on the final of this series. Sandynow is better than the bare form of his run at Market Rasen suggests but the drop back in trip looks against him unless the ground comes up really testing. Johnny Mullen has already shown a decent level of form and shapes as though he'll see out this longer trip whilst Little George showed his first worthwhile form over hurdles when beating a useful mare at Leicester and could go on. Easton Clump is worth a look having shown up well in a bumper but he faces a stiff task on his hurdling bow and may prove no match for Court In Motion.
Johnny Mullen (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression approaching last, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Najaf (11-11) at Exeter 2m 1f lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1) gs.
Peveril 7-2 (11-11) In touch, went 2nd when left in lead 7th, clear 2 out, readily (no time taken), won at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating The Giant Bolster (11-11) by 6l, 17 ran.
Little George (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent early, headway when slightly hampered 3 out, led 2 out, driven flat, stayed on dourly, won at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Queen Poline (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sandynow (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, pushed 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 27l behind Ranjobaie (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs.
Playing With Fire (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, badly hampered before 2 out, not recover, tailed off, 7th of 12, 26l behind Qaspal (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy.
Court In Motion (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) In touch, smooth headway to track leader 7th, led on bit before 3 out, 10 lengths clear when stumbled and fell after last, in a race won by Diamond Brook (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 13 ran.
Dromore Hill (IRE) 250-1 (11-5) Held up, weakened 4 out, 9th of 13, well behind Chartreux (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Easton Clump 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led over 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on until headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Mizzurka (10-6) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
No Principles 12-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 5th to next, regained 2nd approaching 3 out, driven to challenge 2 out, in 3rd, no extra before last, weakened run-in, 4th of 9, 7l behind Aldertune (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rossbrin (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Chsd ldrs, 4th 6out, no ex in 4th from 2out, ko onepce, 5th of 15, 19l behind Romanesco (11-7) at Ballindenisk 3m ire ptp hvy in Dec.
Stevie Bull (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) In touch, pushed along over 7f out, weakened over 4f out, 9th of 10, 48l behind Start Me Up (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m NH flat (4) gf in Oct.
Gladeemma 125-1 (10-10) Mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Fahrisee (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) gs, 15 ran.
Jo Joe's Lot (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) In rear, blundered 2nd, bumped and mistake next, always behind, tailed off, 9th of 15, well behind Black Jack Blues (11-3) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gs.
Quapriland (FR) 66-1 (10-2) Chased leading pair, pushed along after 4 out, weakened soon after 3 out, 6th of 11, 33l behind City Theatre (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs.
Not Another Barney (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) (cp) led 2-6; wknd 11; to & pu 2 out, in a race won by Fairly Glorious (12-0) at Lower Machen 3m ptp gf in May, 11 ran.
