led until headed after 7th, weakened after 9th
held up mid-division, lost touch after 7th, soon tailed off
held up behind, mistakes 8th and 9th, never dangerous
close up, led after 7th, ridden and joined last, headed flat, not pace of winner towards finish
in touch, ridden along after 9th, weakened before last
held up mid-division, hard ridden after 9th, stayed on under pressure to take 4th flat but not troubled leaders
prominent, lost touch 8th, soon tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, soon beaten
held up in touch, ridden after 9th and weakened
held up midfield, under pressure and no headway from 8th
close up, headway 9th, joined leader last, led flat, all out
held up behind, weakened 9th, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden after 9th, weakened before last
in rear, headway 7th, soon ridden and onepace from 2 out
pulled hard in rear, weakened after 9th and never dangerous
A useful middle distance handicapper on the flat with Ian Balding, Palua ran with credit on his hurdling debut when two-and-a-half lengths second to Black Frost at Haydock. With the former winner Little Sport in third place and Saturday's impressive scorer Hey Ref in fourth place that form has a solid look to it and Emma Lavelle's six-year-old will be a popular choice to go one better here. However. the son of Sri Pekan may have it to do to get the better of Nicky Henderson's Kyper Disco. The Epervier Bleu gelding showed decent form in bumper company last season, most notably when fifth behind Lord Sam (winner since over hurdles) at Newbury and has done little wrong in two starts over timber. Flattered by his proximity behind Rhinestone Cowboy back at Newbury on his debut over hurdles, the five-year-old looked unlucky not to win when upped to this trip for the first time at Fontwell on his most recent start when surrendering an eight length lead jumping the last. Sure to have learnt from the experience and with ground conditions to suit, he gets the vote under a returning Mick Fitzgerald. The Venetia Williams-trained Meggie's Beau showed enough in bumper company and on his hurdles debut to suggest he can win races and is entitled to improve as is Martin Pipe's Your So Cool who's only outing so far was when behind the useful Thisthatandtother in a Wincanton bumper last term. First Day Cover probably did not beat much when winning a National Hunt flat race at Plumpton last season and needs to improve on his first effort over hurdles at Folkestone after more than a year off. The rest make limited appeal on the evidence to date.
