in touch, ridden and hit 13th, weakened from next
held up, headway 12th, joined leader 3 out, led next, headed approaching last, hard ridden and stayed on to lead close home
tracked leaders, ridden 12th, weakened from next
held up in touch, ridden and one pace from 3 out
always towards rear
held up, ridden 8th, never dangerous
held up, ridden and headway 8th, weakened from 4 out
towards rear, ridden and no real from 11th
towards rear, headway 12th, mistake and fell next
headway 8th, ridden and one pace from over 2 out
behind, mistake 3rd, never dangerous
tracked leader, joined leader 10th, blundered and unseated rider 13th
led, ridden and headed 2 out, led again approaching last, hard ridden flat, headed close home
Despite the burden of 11st 12lb the topweight, Fard Du Moulin Mas, is well weighted having slipped to an attractive mark. However, there was little sign of encouragement from a recent reappearance at Wincanton when falling in the race won by Hell-Of-A-Shindy (beaten Friday). Kim Bailey's Mount Prague would have claims if fit enough for his first start of the campaign, as would Ingenu from the Robert Alner yard and Echo du Lac from the in form stable of Alan King. Josh Gifford's runners here always warrant a closer look so it would come as no surprise to see Irish Option run well. Tom McGovern's Golden Rose ran an encouraging race at Plumpton last time and is another to consider off her low weight but the one that gets the TEAMtalk vote is Strong Arrow. One of two runners in the contest trained by Ferdy Murphy, who also saddles Ernest William, the son of Strong Gale has been campaigned over hurdles recently (winning at Fakenham last month). Returned to chases here, the nine-year-old will have no worries where fitness is concerned, has slipped to an attractive mark and, with the trip and ground ideal, he has solid claims.
