led 1st, headed, led again 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon clear, hard ridden flat, all out
held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, headway apr 8th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
led 2nd to 6th, chased winner, mistake 8th, soon ridden, kept on well flat
well behind, mistake 6th, kept on from 3 out but never dangerous
held up in touch, mistake 4th, soon behind
held up towards rear, some headway 7th, soon weakened
prominent until weakened 4 out, 3rd an no chance when mistake 2 out
Not a straightforward race. Iorana is on a five-timer but two of those wins were in selling hurdles. He made a pleasing chasing debut but this is tougher. Devon View has had his problems but has shown promise in chases and ought to run well here. Asparagus, well bred for chasing, looked progressive last year although he lacks a run this season. Rovestar (who won this race last year) isn't going to pull any rabbits out of the hat at 11 years of age and is 8lbs higher here than for his last win, although he is a course and distance winner (as is Asparagus). Passereau has age on his side and came good at Bangor last time, for which he has been raised 9lbs. Flahive's First is seeking a three-timer but has been raised 7lbs for the last of those wins. Virtuoso is back on a winning mark, had a pipe-opener over hurdles recently although he hasn't won for a year. Gue Au Loup is a lightly-raced Henry Daly runner, bred in France, and he stays two-and-a-half miles well so will probably ensure a good test at this trip. It's a tricky race and Passereau is a decidedly unconfident TEAMtalk selection.
