prominent, weakened 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
behind, blundered 2nd, in rear when mistake 10th, soon tailed off
in rear, tailed off from 11th, pulled up before 18th
led 1st, led again 3rd to 4th, mistake 6th, ridden and weakened 15th, tailed off and pulled up before 18th
mid-division, took closer order 16th, weakened when mistake 19th, pulled up before next
mistake 2nd in rear, tailed off from 12th, pulled up before 18th
prominent, with leader 12th, tracked leader before mistake 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
led 2nd, led again 5th, headed after 18th, kept on same pace from 2 out
held up in touch, took closer order 17th, led approaching 4 out, ridden out
in rear till moderate headway from 4 out
prominent to 12th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
in touch till weakened 4 out
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, behind from 16th
The beginners¿ chase can go to Silver Birch ahead of River Paradise, Lynrick Lady and Marrasit. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection is already a course winner over hurdles on soft ground and ran reasonably well when third on his chasing debut at Exeter last time, a race in which Petolinski was well behind him in fourth and Aoiferob and Annie Dipper were pulled up. With that experience behind him, he looks set to run a big race here. Of the others, Follow The Flow was placed in a couple of summer novice events last year, Petolinski won here over hurdles on soft going and if he can translate that form to fences then warrants consideration although, as mentioned, he has something to find with the selection on their Exeter runs. River Paradise hails from a very good stable and was still travelling well when falling four out at Folkestone last time. Expect him to go well. Shilo, who has had leg problems, will appreciate this soft going and showed some promise on his latest outing. Witness Time showed that staying suited him when winning a hurdle race at Hereford on good going last February. He should make a chaser, although his first run over the larger obstacles was not exactly eyecatching for the right reasons. Lynrick Lady has won here twice over hurdles and now makes her chasing debut. She too has to be high on the shortlist, as does the Venetia Williams-trained Marrasit, who is bred to jump fences. Overall, though, our selection is Silver Birch.
