behind, blundered 4th, pulled up before next
in touch, mistake 7th, lost place and struggling from next, tailed off
never going well in rear, ridden and struggling 7th, tailed off
mistake 1st, pulled hard and tracked leader after 3rd, blundered 8th, lost 2nd and weakened 3 out
mistake 1st, led after 3rd, clear 8th, joined 2 out, headed before last, weakened run-in
prominent, lost place and behind from 8th, blundered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mistake 2nd, held up in rear, steady headway from 8th, tracked leader 3 out, challenged on bit between last 2, led before last, pushed clear run-in
in touch, behind from 8th, blundered and unseated rider 3 out
help up, ridden and no impression 8th, tailed off
Roofing Spirit and Down The Stretch and Mister Mustard are the three that stand out here and we will plump for the last named. The Ian Williams trained gelding was a decent novice hurdler and went off odds on for his chase debut at Doncaster. He came to grief before the race really got going so little can be gleaned from that effort. However the fact that he started such a short price suggests he had shown ability at home, and with a clear round today he could be capable of beating this modest bunch. Down The Stretch finished second behind Terre De Java in that Doncaster event and had previously taken on top class opponents, so he appears to be the obvious danger. Roofing Spirit has decent enough handicap form and should put his experience to good use. Golden Crusader has shown bits and pieces of form and is another worthy of a mention, however if Mister Mustard can show the same class over the larger obstacles as he did over hurdles, he will be difficult to beat
