led, not fluent 5th, niggled along before 4 out, pressed 3 out, headed briefly 2 out, rallied and every chance last, stayed on gamely and regained lead dying strides
towards rear, travelled keenly early stages, not fluent 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, weakened 4 out, never nearer
towards rear, ridden along before 4 out, weakened and tailed off
towards rear, ridden before 4 out, outpaced and never involved
chased leader in 2nd, pressed leader 4 out, led narrowly 2 out and last, kept on strongly but headed final strides
tracked leader in 3rd, headway to stalk leading pair 4 out, outpaced 3 out, no more and eased down close home
Silver Hallmark was tailed off when Fiddlerontheroof won the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at the start of the year. Colin Tizzard’s charge disappointed later in the Supreme Novices’ but was a fair second on his chasing bow at Chepstow and will be fancied to go one better here. SPORTING JOHN was also disappointing at the Cheltenham Festival in March but looks a cracking prospect for chasing. He won twice over timber here last season and has already scored between the flags. Ostuni has won twice over hurdles but has changed stables since last seen.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Tracked leader who went clear after 2nd, reached for 11th, closer before 4 out, led soon after 4 out, headed next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 7 1/2l behind If The Cap Fits (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 5f (3) gs in Oct.
Gibb Hill 40-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, fell 1st, at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
One For Dunstan (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in midfield, dropped back and struggling 7th, never involved before pulled up 3 out, at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Ostuni (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 9th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 25 1/2l behind Solstice Star (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Silver Hallmark 9-1 (11-7) Held up, pushed along on outside chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened on long run before next, last of 7, dist behind Fiddlerontheroof (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Sporting John (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, dropped to mid-division 4th, pushed along after 4 out, never going pace to get on terms with leaders after, weakened before last, 7th of 12, 30 1/4l behind Envoi Allen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
