towards rear, hit 4th, headway after 6th to take closer order, upsides when fell 4 out
led, took keen hold, headed 4th, tracked leader, ridden and weakened before and hampered by faller 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened from 6th, soon reminders and in rear
in rear, good headway to go 2nd before 3rd, led next, ridden before 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on and held from last
with leader, mistake 3rd, challenged and left 2nd 4 out, led and jumped left 2 out, mistake last, stayed on strongly
Having won at Hereford in March, Kap West was second when favourite at Towcester last month. He's the obvious one here but is exposed and likely to start at very prohibitive odds so may just be worth taking on with chasing debutant KRACKATARA. Susan Gardner's 10-year-old has been very lightly-raced over the last few years but does have ability and wasn't disgraced over hurdles at Wincanton in February. It's not easy to make much of a case for any of the others however.
Krackatara 16-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 8th, no impression before 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 11, 32l behind Cocacobana (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
The Grifter 40-1 (10-10) Always behind, soon tailed off, last of 6, well behind Rangitoto (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Willy Be Lucky (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 49l behind Woodbank (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Kap West (FR) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up in last pair, steady headway approaching 6th, chased leaders 8th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden and no impression on winner before 2 out, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Todareistodo (11-2) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Apr.
Border Lad 5-1 (9-12) In touch, mistake 5th, not fluent 7th when towards rear, weakened 4 out, 6th of 13, well behind Earcomesthedream (10-10) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Apr.