in touch, challenged 4 out, jumped right next, chased winner last, kept on under pressure flat
jumped right, in touch, blundered 7th and 10th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
slowly away, headway and in touch 5th, blundered 7th, led 10th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last
close up, tracked leaders from 8th, led approaching 2 out, headed last, weakened flat
made most, blundered 9th, headed next, stayed challenging, ridden to lead last, kept on well flat
always behind, tailed off
soon behind, mistakes 5th and 8th, tailed off
with leader, prominent when outpaced before 3 out, stayed on before last, kept on to take 3rd flat
always behind, tailed off when blundered 4 out
always behind, mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Not the best of races but the horses that are worth noting are Enitsag, Jazz Night, Hot Plunge and Gray Knight with our vote going to the last named. Gray Knight won under rules at Folkestone in May of last year and although has been struggling to recapture that same level of form this time around he has been beaten by some good horses in the pointing field. This shorter trip will suit and if reproducing his very best can go close. Hot Plunge won over the same trip at Hereford before tackling the big fences at Aintree. That win will probably send him off favourite and value could lie elsewhere. Jazz Night finished seven lengths behind Hot Plunge last time out and will do well to reverse that form while Enitsag although a winner in the pointing field last time out his last win under rules was over a year ago and he is not to be trusted. So for the winner we return to Gray Knight.
Enitsag (FR) 13-2 Prominent when mistake and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Phoenix Phlyer at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (H) hvy in Mar, 11 ran.
Gray Knight (IRE) 2-1jt-fav 4th of 8, 17l behind Bloomfield Storm at Thorpe Lodge 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Hot Plunge 100-1 Prominent, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, behind when fell 5 out in race won by Katarino at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (B) gs, 30 ran.
Jazz Night 9-1 Prominent, bumped 2nd, chased winner after 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 16, 7l behind Hot Plunge at Hereford 2m hts chs (H) gf in Mar.
Galway (IRE) 9-4 won at Bitterley 3m ptp gd beating Stormhill Stag by a hd, 17 ran.
One of The Natives (IRE) 5-1 last of 4, 32l behind Dinsey Finnegan at Lockinge 3m ptp gd in Apr '04.
Viscount Bankes 6-1 Held up, headway 8th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 16, 18l behind Hot Plunge at Hereford 2m hts chs (H) gf in Mar.
Win The Toss 3-1 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Just Lark at Hackwood Park 3m ptp gf in Mar.
