held up in touch, headway halfway, outpaced approaching 3 out, led 2nd 2 out, kept on under pressure to lead run in
held up in touch, ridden and disputing 4th when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
tracked leader, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway halfway, effort 3 out, left in lead 2 out, rider lost whip and headed run in, kept on
towards rear, pushed along 4 out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, weakened 5th
towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, headway halfway, ridden approaching 3 out, 7th and weakening when fell next
tracked leader, left in lead 1st, clear after 3rd, slight lead when fell 2 out
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway under pressure 3 out, left 4th next, hung right and no impression
We can quickly narrow this division of the novices' hurdle down to less than a handful of runners, with Moonlit Harbour taken to defy topweight and see off the challenge of Geri Roulette and Majestic Moonbeam. The selection made an abortive attempt in high class company last time out, when he was well beaten in the European Breeders Fund Sunderlands "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown a month ago. However, he goes well over this trip, as evidenced by wins at Sedgefield twice and Hexham so far this season, and he seems to go on any ground that is a sound type of surface, so he should not be inconvenienced. Admittedly with 12st on his back the task will not be easy, but he is a battler and stays well, so he is fancied. Geri Roulette receives 12lb from the selection but has a bit to prove after being pulled up in a race at Ayr won by Paddy The Piper in February. That was on similar ground to what she will encounter here, though he has shown she can handle that in the past, and she does seem to have going to non going days. If she is in a positive mood here then she could give the selection most to do. Not many of the others make much appeal, with Jonjo O'Neill's Majestic Moonbeam unlikely to be making the long trip north for fun. He has ability judged on his debut bumper win from Limerick Leader last year, but comes here after a couple of ordinary efforts over fences and still looks best watched. Perhaps Wiseguy is most interesting of the rest. Graham Lee rides for Howard Johnson and the gelding has had only one hurdles outing thus far at Wetherby in January. No mug on the Flat, it could pay to watch the market for any confidence, but for the selection we will stick with the proven abilities of Moonlit Harbour.
