ridden after 7th, soon weakened, tailed off
hampered 4th, weakened approaching 6th
hampered start, behind, hampered 2nd, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, headway approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
dwelt, soon mid-division, hampered 4th, weakened approaching 5tht, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, led approaching 5th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up, good headway approaching 7th, led after 2 out, quickened clear flat, easily
led, ridden and headed approaching 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed after next, not quicken
in touch, hampered 4th, ridden approaching 7th, soon weakened
held up behind, never on terms
held up towards rear, smooth headway from 5th, chased leaders and ran green approaching 3 out, kept on, improve
prominent until fell 4th
An interesting start to proceedings, with runners from the big west-country stables lining up. Jonjo O'Neill saddles Feel The Pride, a winner on the Flat for Jim Bolger in Ireland, but without an outing since June. Martin Pipe saddles two-George Street and the ex-German Randy, having his first run in over two years, but neither stand out and Paul Nicholls' newcomer Whispering John makes more appeal. Place in two Irish points in the spring and owned by Paul Barber, he has been schooling well by all accounts and is due to go novice chasing soon. Expect a big run, but on this occasion he may find one too good in Robber Baron who gets the TEAMtalk vote. The Henrietta Knight inmate made a winning debut in bumper company at Huntingdon in November 2001, prompting connections to compare him with Best Mate no less. He has not been seen much since then, having had just four runs, culminating in a sixth to In Contrast in the Martell Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last April. That form is head and shoulders above anything else here and it will be a surprise if Robber Baron does not make a winning reappearance.
