soon pushed along in rear, well behind 4th, mistake 2 out
with leader, led 2nd to 3rd, chased leader after, not fluent 4 out, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, no impression on leaders when not fluent last
held up in rear, headway approaching 4th, lost place 3 out, no danger after
chased leaders until after 4 out
held up, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
mid-division, ridden when blundered 4 out, weakened after 3 out, behind when mistake last
in touch, ridden when blundered 3 out, no impression on leaders when mistake last, stayed on under pressure flat
in touch, not fluent 4th, soon ridden and beaten
in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, driven along approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened quickly after 2 out
held up, headway after 4th, weakened after 2 out
held up in touch, went 2nd going well 3 out, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, drew clear flat
held up in rear, shaken up approaching 4 out, effort 3 out, no further progress
led to 2nd, led 3rd, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, shaken up and effort approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
held up in rear, headway on inside when blundered 3 out, one pace in 4th when jumped left and mistake last, no extra flat
held up, headway when blundered 4 out, close up when hit 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
mid-division, weakened after 4th, behind when pulled up before last
not fluent 2nd, always behind
In this 22-runner handicap hurdle in which they are likely to go 7/1, or more, the field, we will select Lunar Crystal, but there are plenty of runners that should be considered. Island Sound enjoyed himself when winning at Wincanton and a six-pound rise might not be enough to stop him. Green Tango is a course and distance winner and not far above a winning mark, while Borora has been knocking at the door from his revised mark and might bag some money again. On Crossbow Creek form, Green Tango, Chockdee and Borora are closely weighted, which is solid form, and Idaho d'Ox is now back to the mark from which he won at Cheltenham 14 months ago, but recent efforts have been modest. Back To Ben Alder should strip fitter for his Wincanton effort, Vivid Imagination possibly looks good value for just a six-pound rise for his Lingfield win, and Stance, who has been well placed over hurdles so far, was pretty good on the Flat, and will get the strong pace he needs over this trip. Rooster's Reunion can be forgiven his Uttoxeter run last time, and he' s another one that should have better to come. Lunar Crystal is now two pounds below a winning mark and showed enough in a valuable affair at Sandown last time to warrant consideration, and Tighe Caster continues on the upgrade following two wins, so give him some thought too. Talking of thoughts, you've just had ours, the upshot of them being that Lunar Crystal, who was coming back from a break last time, might be the one to be on.
Time To Shine 40-1 Led 1st, headed soon after, soon in rear, last of 6, 43l behind Mondul at Fontwell 2m 2f nov chs (B) gs in Feb.
Island Sound 12-1 Always prominent, led 3 out, kept on well from next, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Jan beating Kildee Lass by 2l, 10 ran.
Green Tango 7-1 Never better than mid-division, 9th of 21, 15l behind Crossbow Creek at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jan.
Fast Mix (FR) 14-1 Held up in touch, ridden 2 out, one pace, 9th of 12, 24l behind Broke Road at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Feb.
Dad's Elect (GER) 33-1 Always behind, no chance and weakened before 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Crossbow Creek at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jan, 21 ran.
Borora 16-1 Held up, effort under pressure 2 out, one pace and no impression before last, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Crossbow Creek at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (B) gd in Jan.
Idaho d'Ox (FR) 100-1 Held up in rear, ridden 4th, soon struggling, 19th of 25, 22l behind Essex at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Mobasher (IRE) 5-2fav Held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 20l behind Hawadeth at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Dec.
Back To Ben Alder (IRE) 4-1 Held up in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 12, 12l behind Broke Road at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Feb.
Vivid Imagination (IRE) 10-1 Chased winner, led 4th, made rest, clear after 3 out, pushed out flat, won at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb beating Executive Decision by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ziggy Zen 22-1 Held up, headway to chase leader 3 out, soon ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 15, 33l behind Supreme Serenade at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gd in Jan.
Power Unit 13-2 Tracked leaders, chased winner 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, lost 2nd and weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 10, 24l behind Marcel at Stratford 2m nov hdl (C) gd in Aug.
Lord Joshua (IRE) 17-2 Chased leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 15l behind Island Sound at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Jan.
Stance 1-4fav Tracked leader, headway approaching 5th, led approaching 2 out and pushed clear, eased from last, won at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gd in May beating Ivorsagoodun by 13l, 7 ran.
Rooster's Reunion (IRE) 7-2 Held up in rear, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 25l behind Vigoureux at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Oct.
Lunar Crystal (IRE) 66-1 Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 23, 10l behind Tamarinbleu at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Jan.
All Star (GER) Evensfav Mid-division, headway after 2nd, led 4th, headed 3 out, eased when beaten 2 out, 6th of 12, 21l behind Oracle des Mottes at Wincanton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Jan.
Allumee 4-5fav Chased leader, headway after 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and every chance last, switched right flat, ran on but not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind The Persuader at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Tighe Caster 11-2 Held up in mid-division, steady headway approaching 2 out, soon chased leader, led last, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gs in Feb beating Jacks Craic by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Beyond The Pale (IRE) 7-1 Held up, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, well behind Debbie at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Pure Mischief (IRE) 4-1 Held up, headway on bit approaching 2 out, ridden and every chance flat, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Royal Hector at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) hvy in Dec.
Chockdee (FR) 10-1 Held up, mistake 6th, chased leaders before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace after, 5th of 21, 14l behind Crossbow Creek at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jan.
