made all, in command approaching 3 out, eased
tracked winner, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened next
held up in 3rd, reminders 6th, lost touch approaching 8th, soon behind
While Small Shots should improve for the step up in trip, it will be a major surprise if this does not go to Ollie Magern, who should be more than capable of giving weight away to his three rivals. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding has shown improved form this term with wins at Stratford (twice) and Hereford in three of his last four starts. The form of his latest success was franked when runner-up Jonalton won here last month and a reproduction of that effort should suffice. Charlie Egerton's Small Shots was well held on his only previous outing in a Doncaster novices' hurdle but that race has worked out well and there could be more to come over today's longer trip. Dante's Banker showed some signs of promise on his British debut at Uttoxeter recently and makes more appeal than Dark Island but Ollie Magern should take plenty of beating and gets the vote.
