held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
tracked leader, lost place from 4 out
led, headed 3 out, ridden next, one pace run-in
held up, pushed along approaching 5th, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden approaching next, headed run-in, kept on
mid-division, headway 5 out, soon ridden, weakened next
held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, hit last, led run-in
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, hit 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
Ei Ei has been a revelation of fences over the last year and returns to hurdles off a 21lb lower mark so has to be respected but preference is for the in-form Fontanesi, who gets the verdict over another well-treated individual Colorado Falls. The last mentioned goes unpenalised for a win in a conditional jockeys' handicap last week and is due to go up 6lbs in future handicaps. He has an obvious chance but they all have it to do to get the better of Fontanesi. Martin Pipe's gelding as won his last three starts, latterly when beating the useful Your Advantage by a cosy eight lengths at Ludlow. Due to go up a stone in future handicaps, the son of Sadler's Wells is difficult to oppose. Top weight Almaydan has been running consistently well of late and has to be respected although the burden of 11st 12lb may prove to be beyond him. Like Ei Ei, Europa is better known as a chaser these days but, unlike Michael Chapman's gelding, he makes limited appeal at the weights. Of more interest may be the Gary Moore-trained Nawamees, who has every chance with the selection on running at Fontwell last month. However, Fontanesi has probably improved since then and is hard to oppose.
