led until 3rd, remained prominent, ridden approaching 5th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway 5th, led approaching 2 out, ridden out
held up, not jumped well, always behind
held up mid-division, driven and headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out
in touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace
held up, headway after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
prominent, joined leader 2nd, led next, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, ridden and weakened 5th, pulled up before 2 out
held up, shaken up approaching 3 out, never placed to challenge
in touch, headway 5th, driven to challenge after 3 out, soon every chance, no extra flat
prominent, pulled hard, every chance approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened halfway, behind when pulled up before 2 out
In a race where the betting might provide plenty of clues, we will side with Diego Cao ahead of Fort Churchill, Kentmere, Lunar Exit, Moorlaw and Wild Is The Wind. Looking at the runners. Barbilyrifle might fare better over hurdles in time. Ten-furlong Flat winner Diego Cao has a good profile for a prospective jumper and, from a canny yard, has to be of interest. Similar comments apply to Fort Churchill. Grouville has interesting breeding for this game but showed little on his hurdling debut but a repeat of Kentmere's third over course and distance last time on his second hurdling effort puts him into the equation too. Leopold has shown some promise but others are preferred, while Lunar Exit has to be given the once over as he hails from the Lady Herries stable, which tends to do well with its jumpers. Moorlaw is another to consider,being from the Nicky Henderson stable that is now having winners, while Sandokan could improve over hurdles for the very shrewd Barney Curley. Finally, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Wild Is The Wind showed plenty of promise on his sole Flat run in France a year ago and is another to have firmly in mind. You pay your money and you make your choice, really, in a race that should also be watched with an eye to the future, and our choice is Diego Cao.