blundered and unseated rider 1st
held up and behind, steady headway on outside from 3 out, pushed along and no response after 2 out
held up in touch, hampered 1st, ridden 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced
led, pushed along after 3 out, headed narrowly flat, kept on, no extra near finish
always prominent, chased leader and not fluent 3 out, led flat, driven out
held up in rear, slipped up bend approaching 4th
held up in rear, mistake 8th, brief effort after 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next
held up, ridden 3 out, no headway when mistake 2 out
tracked leader until ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten
well behind from 8th
A competitive handicap here with Baron Windrush, Multeen River and Spring Grove all with chances, and we will side with Baron Windrush. The selection has to shoulder top weight here but one only had to see his demolition of the opposition on his chasing debut at Stratford last month to understand why he will be well supported here. Brought along in typical Nigel Twiston-Davies fashion last year, he will pay a few bills this time around and he ploughed through the mud that day to record a wide margin win. He doesn't need cut to go well though, so he won't mind the ground either way here and can take this on his way to better things. Multeen River is likely to emerge as his market rival with the connections he has, and he can also make a big impression on the track. The Supreme Leader gelding goes particularly well on top of the ground, but should also handle some cut if the rains come and now that he has hit form with a win at Uttoxeter last time he looks capable of giving the selection a bit to do. Spring Grove got the better of the useful Prominent Profile at Warwick last December and ran in some decent races thereafter. He can go well fresh, but would not want much rain, so with plenty of that forecast he may have to wait for another day. Also keep an eye on the market here for any moves for Irish raiders Cregg House and Green Finger, but Baron Windrush left a big impression at Stratford and can follow up here.
