always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
with leader, ridden and lost place after 4th, behind when jumped right 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
keen, mid-division, headway 5th, led after 7th, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened
held up, headway after 3 out, led approaching last, pushed clear flat
led, ridden and headed after 7th, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, pushed along after 6th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching last, weakened flat
chased leaders to 7th, soon behind
in touch, pushed along and lost place 5th, outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied last, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
A number of these are returning after long absences and the likes of Hussard Collonges, Simoun and especially Tristan Lulow all have a something to prove. Therefore, it can pay to stick with Better Day, whose yard do extremely well here and, with race fitness on his side, he just gets the nod in an intriguing race. The revised terms bring Nick's Choice and Spring Pursuit closer together and it will be interesting to note which of these two attracts support before the off. However, the former is tough campaigner that does not know how to run a bad race and he can come out on top of that personal battle this afternoon. Hussard Collonges, whose current hurdle rating is 44lb lower than the mark he was on when he last time he ran over fences, has to be considered an interesting runner in the race. He is a talented individual that will not be far away if he has fully recovered from his pelvic injury that has kept him off the track since December 2003. The market will tell us whether he has place claims today. Still, as Better Days has far fewer questions to answer about his well being, he is given another chance to shine over a trip that might be a little sharp for a handful of his rivals.
Simoun (IRE) 2-5fav Held up, not fluent 6th, headway next, quickened clear with leader after 3 out, led last, ran on well flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gf in Apr beating Six Of One by 2l, 10 ran.
Moss Harvey 16-1 Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, well behind Sharp Belline at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Dec.
Spring Pursuit 7-2 Held up in rear, hit 3rd and 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, beaten last, 3rd of 12, 30l behind Mythical King at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft.
Better Days (IRE) 5-1 Led until approaching 2nd, chased leader to 6th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, 5th of 13, 30l behind Kasthari at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jan.
Merryvale Man 8-1 Chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, 9th of 14, 24l behind Another Dude at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf.
Day du Roy (FR) 12-1 Held up, good headway to lead approaching 4th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 35l behind Fishki's Lad at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd.
Tristan Ludlow (IRE) 11-4 In rear, headway 3 out, edged left approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Empire Park at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) sft in Jan '03.
Nick's Choice 11-1 Held up in touch, chased winner 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 12, 20l behind Mythical King at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft.
