mistakes, always behind
chased leaders, lost place 11th, weakened and pulled up before next,
led, mistake and headed 3rd, remained with leader, lost place 10th, weakened from 3f out
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 4f out, weakened 2f out
held up, headway 11th, chased winner 3f out, challenged next, ridden and every chance last, kept on same pace flat
tracked leading pair on inside, went 2nd 10th, led 4f out, hard pressed from 2f out, ridden and stayed on flat
Westmeath Flyer will relish this testing ground over his optimum trip and all the signs point to a win here for Paul Blockley's charge. Paddy Brennan is booked for the gelding and he does not look to be up against too much here. His recent Worcester debut over fences was not exactly scintillating, but he will benefit from the experience and should be a different proposition now. Ashleybank House is perhaps the most likely danger. The former Len Lungo inmate earned both hurdles wins on soft and heavy going and although he has not won for well over two years, this is a poor race and if he runs up to anything like his old form we could see him getting involved. Paphian Bay is very interesting for Ferdy Murphy. The eight-year-old won a Wetherby maiden hurdle in 2003 and had not run for 28 months until needing his reappearance outing at Kelso last time. He's been given a good month or more to recover from that and a vastly improved effort would be no surprise. Uptown Lad makes only limited appeal and we prefer Westmeath Flyer to do the business.
Ashleybank House (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Towards rear, never dangerous, 6th of 10, well behind Wee William (11-13) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs (5) gf.
Musical Chord (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, reminders 7th, lost place next, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cash King (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan, 13 ran.
Paphian Bay 33-1 (11-2) Towards rear, struggling 13th, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 43l behind Bellaney Jewel (10-9) at Kelso 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Apr.
Sandy Gold (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Over The Storm (10-13) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Uptown Lad (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 4 out, chased leaders next, no impression from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Red Man (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd.
Westmeath Flyer 4-1 (11-2) In rear and keen, mistake 2nd, headway 12th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) sft.
