held up, hampered and unseated rider 4th
jumped slowly 1st, in touch when fell 4th
weakened from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, went 2nd approaching 2 out, soon ridden, led flat, all out
reminders after 2nd, weakened from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before last
behind, headway 5th, ridden after next, weakened approaching last
took keen hold mid-division, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, 6th when unseated rider 5th
in touch, went 2nd 3rd, led after 6th, ridden approaching last, headed flat, stayed on
weakened from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, ridden 6th, weakened from next
behind, ridden and headway 6th, stayed on to go 3rd approaching last, not trouble first two
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 5th
led and soon clear, headed and weakened quickly after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
Do L'Enfant d'Eau had placed form over hurdles in France and warrants respect on his debut for Philip Hobbs, as does another French import, Oracle Des Mottes, who is now in the care of Paul Nicholls. The latter was a winner on the flat over 1m4f on heavy ground in the provinces and looks the type to make a hurdler. The Venetia Williams-trained Andrew Doble, a mile maiden winner for Michael Jarvis on the level, has failed to translate his flat race form to hurdling in three starts so far, a comment that also applies to Sue Wilton's Araglin. Toby Balding's Lord Fernando strictly holds both that one and Thorpeness on running behind Fortunate Dave at Warwick earlier this month and may be open to further improvement but the TEAMtalk vote goes to Martin Pipe's Dudleys Delight. The daughter of Makbul showed a likeable attitude to complete a hat-trick of successes in selling and claiming company on the flat at Yarmouth and Leicester (twice) recently and, although her form is over seven furlongs, she is out of a dam who won over hurdles so the trip might not be a problem over timber.
