led and soon clear, headed approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next
chased leaders, hit 2nd, not fluent 3rd, led approaching 3 out, ridden and under pressure next, hit last, ridden out
chased leader until lost place after 6th, never dangerous after
held up towards rear, hit 2nd, hit 6th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off from 3 out
held up in rear, went 3rd approaching 7th, ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance last, edged right run in, not quicken
A modest maiden hurdle in which Mr Mischief would not have to be anything out of the ordinary to score, with Mickey Croke rated his biggest danger. With Tony McCoy booked for a stable that has done fairly well with its hurdlers in recent years, the selection could well be sent off as favourite for this race. Fit from the Flat, he has won five times on Wolverhampton's and Southwell's all-weather surface over distances ranging from a mile to 12 furlongs. If he can transfer that level of form to hurdling, then he must hold every chance in this contest. Mickey Croke has yet to race this season but ran well when second on his final start last time around when second to Gracilis. That rates as reasonable form and, already a bumper winner, he looks more than capable of landing a race of this nature. Turning to the others. Bulgaria Moon showed some ability in a two-mile Redcar claimer in June but Bolton Barrie has regressed since showing some promise over hurdles last autumn. Killeaney is very hard to build a case for which, in turn, leads us back to Mr Mischief, who just gets the call over Mickey Croke.
