in touch, outpaced 5th, weakened from 3 out
headway 6th, ridden and one pace from 2 out, finished lame
in touch until ridden and weakened from 3 out
prominent, ridden and no headway from 3 out
jumped slowly 1st, not fluent 2nd, in rear when fell 7th
prominent until ridden and weakened 7th, soon well behind
never better than mid-division
headway approaching 6th, joined leaders 4 out, not fluent next, chased winner from 2 out, no chance with winner
raced keen, ran wide to track leader 3rd, lost place 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
ridden halfway, some late headway, nearest finish
held up early, headway 7th, led 3 out, ridden clear approaching 2 out, easily
in touch, chased leader 6th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last
led and raced keen, clear 3rd, weakened quickly and headed after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, some headway after 6th, soon ridden and beaten
River City who showed the benefit of experience when running out an impressive bumper winner at Ascot last month and take a weak event. The Noel Chance-trained gelding will have been well schooled for his hurdling debut and has the scope to improve further. Kim Bailey's Meltonian showed some promise when fourth in a Huntingdon bumper but flopped on his first start over timber and is best watched on this occasion. Downpour landed a modest middle distance Southwell handicap for former handler Sir Mark Prescott on the Flat last season but cut little ice for new connections on his hurdling debut at Newbury in March and now has something to prove.
