held up in touch, ridden after 4th, losing place and pulled up after 5th
behind when unseated rider 1st
led until headed 2 out, ridden and led again approaching last, stayed on well, flat
held up towards rear, in touch 6th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, effort before last, kept on, not pace of winner
tracked winner, led 2 out, hard ridden and headed before last, weakened
always behind, tailed off after 6th, pulled up before last
behind, headway after 2 out and in touch, no extra and one pace before last
pulled hard in rear, not fluent, well behind when pulled up after 5th
in touch, ridden after 7th, every chance last, no extra and one pace, flat
With Alpine Star likely to go off the favourite, this looks to be the weaker of the two divisions and the vote goes to Phar Out Phavorite, who is preferred to Charlies Double. The last mentioned makes his hurdling debut having shown promise in two starts in bumpers and has to be respected with the John Best yard in good form at present. However, his hurdling ability has to be taken on trust and a safer bet looks to be Phar Out Phavorite, who was of a similar level of ability in bumpers but has had the benefit of a start over timber having been given a quiet ride behind the useful Without A Doubt first time up at Folkestone last month. Emma Lavelle's gelding should come on considerably for the run and, at the odds, makes more appeal than Nick Gifford's Alpine Star who has clearly had his problems having missed all of last term and might not be one to place too much faith in, despite a couple of fair efforts this term. Limited Edition was highly tried when last seen but that was 20 months ago and it is impossible to know how much ability he retains. Of more interest may be Iris Point-to-point winner Touch of Fate, who finished in front of the selection at Folkestone but, as we have said, Phar Out Phavorite was ridden with an eye to the future that day and he gets the vote in the hope that this may be his day.
