in touch, led briefly approaching 4 out, jumped right next, soon ridden, 3rd and held when left 2nd last
held up in touch, smooth headway to lead on bit 4 out, shaken up and narrowly headed when fell last
held up rear, good headway approaching 4 out, ridden and slight advantage when left clear last, comfortably
led 2nd until 6th, led 12th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
in touch, headway to lead 6th, headed 12th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
tracked leaders and keen, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
led until slow jump 2nd, chased leaders, mistake 9th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, left 3rd at last
held up until fell 8th
We will opt for Blue Business here, and he can get the better of Bowleaze and Dancer Life. In winning his last four races, Blue Business achieved a hurdling rating of 122 last season, and proved himself pretty decent in the process. He's bred for this jumping game and looks the one they all have to beat. Dancer Life is a winning hurdler who achieved a rating of 112 over the smaller obstacles, so he is respected. However, Bowleaze earned a rating of 122 over hurdles and, being with a stable that generally buys with chasing in mind, he looks to be a leading player today. It's Rumoured and Floranz have bits of form that rate around the 90 mark and Harrihawkan is a winning pointer but, for us, they ought not to be good enough for, principally, Blue Business.
Blue Business 5-1 (10-9) Chased clear leader, improved after 9th, led approaching 2 out, driven clear approaching last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (B) gd in Apr beating Idaho D'ox (10-3) by 13l, 12 ran.
Bowleaze (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway from 7th, chased leader from 3 out, ran on to lead approaching last, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gd in May beating Malaga Boy (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Dancer Life (POL) 5-2jt-fav (10-11) Jumped big, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Chivite (11-9) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Aug '04, 6 ran.
Harrihawkan Evensfav (12-0) won at Garthorpe 2m 4f ptp gd in May beating Kings Reason (11-7) by 4l, 10 ran.
Senor Gigo 66-1 (11-2) Towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 37l behind Silver Coin (10-4) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (F) gf in Feb '04.
Wynford Eagle 16-1 (12-0) 5th of 15, 28l behind Big Brendan (12-0) at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp gd in Mar.
It's Rumoured 11-4fav (11-2) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, weakening when hit 6th, 9th of 13, 21l behind Honey's Gift (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Mar.
Floranz 33-1 (10-9) Held up, blundered 2nd, mistake 4th, went moderate 3rd 11th, no chance when not fluent 14th, 3rd of 7, well behind Koumba (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (E) gf in Sept.
