led 13th, weakened quickly before next, behind from 4 out
held up in touch, ridden to lead after 4f, clear 2 out, hit last, eased flat
held up, went 2nd 5th, mistake 10th, weakend when mistake 12th, behind when pulled up before 14th
chased leader from 4th, led after 13th, headed 4 out, one pace from 3 out
prominent, headway to lead briefly 4 out, one pace from 2 out
held up in rear, lost touch from 13th
Robert Alner's Barnards Green can race off a 3lb lower mark than when successful at Taunton last week as he was out of the handicap proper that day but the six-year-old has yet to prove his effectiveness over today's trip and preference is for Hanover Square who gets the nod over Jim Jam Joey. The selection is well treated on hurdles form and coming from the in-form stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies is unlikely to fail for lack of peak fitness. Like the selection, Jim Jam Joey reverts to chasing after a spell over hurdles and looks better treated in this sphere but, at the age of 11, he may not be open to as much improvement as the Twiston-Davies runner. Top weight Shoulton is likely to struggle under the burden of 11st 12lb on his return and of more interest may be the Philip Hobbs-trained Castleford, who is surely better than when pulled up on his return a fortnight ago. The Seamus Mullins-trained See You Around is capable of taking a hand if fit enough on his reappearance but preference is for Hanover Square to make a winning return to chasing.
