held up behind, headway 7th, effort 4 out, no impression
held up, outpaced 7th, headway approaching 3 out, mistake next, no impression
mid-division, headway 7th, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, weakened 4 out
with leaders, jumped right throughout, weakened 4 out
made all, clear from 3 out, easily
pushed along towards rear, weakened from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out.
held up mid-division, effort 4 out, no impression after
in touch, pushed along approaching 8th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, lost place after 3rd, soon struggling and well behind
behind, driven along approaching 5th, weakened from 7th
in touch, chased leaders after 4 out, chased winner after last, no impression
in touch, not fluent 4th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off
held up, headway 8th, weakened 4 out
Aston Lad is a confident recommendation ahead of Lord Jack and Caesar's Palace. Micky Hammond's representative is a really likeable type and the Middleham handler looks have to engineered plenty of improvement from him of late. Initially campaigned on top of the ground, he has shown much more aptitude when there is plenty of mud around and he should get favourable conditions here. Graham Lee has a good record when riding for the stable and he takes the mount this afternoon. Lord Jack is rated 140+ over chase fences. He is rated just 115 over hurdles and is watched accordingly in the market. Caesar's Palace is impossible to predict as he rarely runs at a consistent level. His backers had Peter Buchanan's persistent to thank for his most recent victory. Thoutmousis paid the penalty for setting a suicidal pace in the Lanzarote and was soon burnt off. Speed Kris has ability but is proving impossible for Sue Bradburne to place. Imtihan was backed ahead of his first outing for Sue Smith and it will be interesting to see if the same faces are back again. Plenty of entries but plenty of deadwood among them. Aston Lad still looks as if he has another handicap in him and we shall nominate him accordingly.
