led, hit 2nd and 7th, narrowly headed 8th, outpaced next, rallied approaching 10th, weakening when mistake 3 out
held up and behind, jumped right 5th, slow jumped 6th, headway 3 out, every chance 2 out, one pace close home
with leader, led 8th, headed approaching 2 out and soon weakened
tracked leaders, pecked 2nd, headway to join leaders 9th, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, ran on
The best of these over hurdles, Sardagna appears to have been found a fairly soft race in a bid to win over fences and, as such, gets the vote in this beginners' chase. The Martin Pipe-trained mare showed plenty of promise when second to Shaadiva on her chasing debut, and a repeat of the same would make her the one to beat. Oulton Broad has own over hurdles although it is not a plus point on his chasing debut that he has failed to complete in two of his last three hurdling runs. If this is to be a problem once again, the one to challenge the selection might be Stopwatch, who ran well over course and distance last time and has that important chasing experience. Cloudy Blues actually ran well for a long way over a longer trip over hurdles last time and could build on that over fences, but for today's winner, we return to Sardagna.
Cloudy Blues (IRE) 100-1 In touch, ridden 9th, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 34l behind Comanche War Paint at Taunton 3m nov hdl (E) gs.
Oulton Broad 12-1 In rear and keen, blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Totally Scottish at Doncaster 2m 3f clm hdl (F) gd, 15 ran.
Stopwatch (IRE) 14-1 Chased leaders, chased winner 4 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Get The Point at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd.
Sardagna (FR) Evensfav Held up, mistake 2nd, headway after 4 out, led next, hit 2 out, mistake last, soon headed, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Shaadiva at Market Rasen 2m 4f mrs nov chs (D) gd in Feb.
