made all, hit 7th, clear approaching 2 out
held up in touch, hit 6th, headway after 5 out, chased winner approaching next, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out when not fluid
held up, headway to chase leaders 12th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, kept on, no impression
in touch, chased winner from 9th until weakened approaching 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 5 out, no impression after
held up in rear, jumped slowly 5th, jumped right 7th, lost place next, jumped badly right and unseated rider 11th
Tandava gets the vote over Blairgowrie, Moonlit Harbour and Marsh Run in this beginners' chase. Tandava has been a versatile performer during his career, having gained three wins on the Flat, all on heavy ground, and then overcoming more testing conditions when scoring over hurdles at both Perth and Kelso last year. He now tries his hand at chasing, and is sure to have been well-schooled by Sue Bradburne. He has been given a break since January, and if produced fit, he should go close based on his best hurdles form. Moonlit Harbour was rated nearly a stone higher than the selection over timber and has more experience over the bigger obstacles, but has fallen on two of his last three outings and cannot be put forward with any confidence. Blairgowrie has had just one run over hurdles this year, and although he too will have been put through his paces over fences at home, his stable's current form is off-putting. Marsh Run has bits of form over hurdles but the feeling is that he will need even further at his new game, and so without being too confident, Tandava is the pick.
Blairgowrie (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Led to 6th, jumped slowly next, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 23l behind Presumptuous (10-11) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
High Five 100-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, weakening when blundered next, 4th of 16, well behind Laertes (11-2) at Newcastle 3m mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Moonlit Harbour 16-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, some headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 9, 47l behind Wild Cane Ridge (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Tandava (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, blundered 5th, pushed along approaching next, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 10, 16l behind Euro American (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Try Catch Paddy (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra, 5th of 11, 10l behind Morgan Be (11-9) at Ayr 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Marsh Run 7-1 (11-9) Led, jumped right 1st, headed 4th, ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, well behind Titian Flame (10-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Tandawizi 80-1 (10-4) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Marlborough Sound (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (E) gd in May, 16 ran.
