always behind
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out and kept on one pace
always handy, chased winner from 2 out, ridden and jockey lost iron last, driven and kept on flat
made all, driven out flat, comfortably
mid-division, lost place and behind from 7th and soon beaten
prominent until ridden and lost place 7th, soon beaten
tracked leaders until lost place 7th
mid-division, fell 3rd
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, ridden and soon one pace
always towards rear
Nonrunner
An interesting stayers' handicap hurdle where topweight LOOM is given the vote ahead of Lawgiver and Orang Outan. The David Pipe-trained selection acts very well on a sound surface and it would be easy to put his disappointing effort last time down to a 20lb hike by the handicapper for winning two races in September. He may actually just have needed that latest Doncaster run after a break, and the way he ran when winning suggested that this mark is still a fair one, so we will give him another chance. Lawgiver has a good ground course win on his CV and did manage to get his nose in front over 2m 3f at Catterick in December. He probably just about stays this far, but of more concern is a 4lb rise after being beaten last time. Orang Outan has a bit to prove after blundering away his chance at Newcastle last time. He acts on decent going like today's and if his jumping holds up then there is no question that he has the stamina to get involved. Industrial Star has his optimum conditions here and stays well enough, though on balance his form is perhaps not quite good enough to win this from today's mark. Wotchalike enjoyed a rattling good summer in 2008. He stays well and acts on the ground and two dismal efforts on his last two starts have seen him drop to below his last winning mark, so there are possibilities for him, but Loom is preferred.
Loom (GER) 2-1fav (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 14, 32l behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Lawgiver (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 7th, led approaching 2 out, headed run-in, no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon beaten, 10th of 18, well behind Description (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Industrial Star (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) In touch, reminders after 6th, soon lost place, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Whatdoidowiththat (10-9) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Hapthor 16-1 (11-5) In touch until ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 10l behind Divex (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f am hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Orang Outan (FR) 11-4fav (11-1) In touch, blundered badly 7th, pecked 10th, outpaced 4 out, 5th and weakening when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Jorveybrook (10-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Fortunate Dave (USA) 16-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 4 out, never dangerous, 11th of 18, 45l behind Cassius (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Wotchalike (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 14th of 18, well behind Description (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Doris's Gift 16-1 (10-0) Led, headed approaching 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Aldiruos (10-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Lady Sambury 16-1 (10-1) Mid-division, lost touch 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Description (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 18 ran.
Dauntsey Bay 25-1 (11-2) Always behind, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Stoneriggs Merc (11-2) at Musselburgh 3m hcp ch 0-95 (5) gs in Jan '08, 12 ran.
Ethan's Star (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Led 4th, headed 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Cote d'Argent (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Majestic Chief 10-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, quickly weakened and pulled up after 4th, in a race won by Solway Sunset (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Mar, 16 ran.
