chased winner to 3 out, outpaced and struggling soon after
in rear, brief effort after 5th, tailed off when mistake 3 out
made all, ridden approaching 2 out, driven and ran on well flat
prominent, hard ridden and outpaced by leading pair after 3 out, kept on same pace
took keen hold and prominent, chased winner 3 out, challenged going well when mistake last, ridden and no extra flat
A particularly poor event and it is hard to look beyond Julie's Leader and Strong Arrow who look set to dominate the market. The latter returns to hurdling having run moderately over the larger obstacles when last seen in November. The son of Strong Gale has claims on his narrow handicap success at Fakenham in October but may just need the outing following a near four-month break and preference is for Julie's Leader. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has been struggling to make an impact over fences of late but was a useful hurdler at his best and should prove hard to beat at this level on these favourable terms. Paylander is a poor middle distance maiden on the Flat but has shown a little ability in two starts over timber and looks best of the remainder.
