held up, headway to join leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened next
held up towards rear, headway to join leaders 4 out, ridden and quickly weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up
prominent, led 3rd, ridden and headed when hit 2 out, soon weakened
led, blundered and headed 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off from 4 out
held up in rear, and raced wide, hit 7th, headway on bit after 4 out, quickly weakened after 4 out
with leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out
held up, headway when blundered 7th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led approaching next, soon clear, easily
Diamant Noir has obvious claims on the form book but the only time that Jonjo O'Neill's mare has encountered testing conditions over hurdles (at Huntingdon in December) she was beaten by a 100/1 shot so, at the forecast odds we would rather look elsewhere and prefer Samby to Kasthari. The last mentioned was a useful stayer on the flat with Sir Michael Stoute but did not look the most accomplished of jumpers when turned over at odds on first time out over hurdles at Newcastle behind Shayadi. Ayr winner Provocative has to be respected especially now that Martin Todhunter has his string in good form, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Champagne Harry and Henrietta Knight's Eva So Charming are not out of it but the vote goes to Samby. Oliver Sherwood's gelding looked a progressive performer when scoring by a distance her last time. The softening of the ground will not inconvenience him and gets the verdict in a race that may be more competitive than the number suggest.
