tracked leaders, effort 2 out, kept on one pace
led, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
always behind
always behind
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead approaching last, held on well towards finish
mid-division, headway 3rd and in touch, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, headway approaching 2 out, soon challenging, one pace run-in
mid-division, headway and effort approaching 2 out, stayed on well run-in, just held towards finish
towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and effort, no extra run-in
Although Petrula has risen in the weights, he has also shown enough significant improvement to suggest that he has a little more to offer from his current mark and he is expected to confirm his superiority over Full Irish, who has ability but is yet to recapture his old sparkle, while Oracle des Mottes travels a long way for this and has to be given the utmost respect. Paul Nicholls also thought the six-year-old good enough to merit an entry for the Lanzerote Hurdle at Kempton tomorrow, so it is worth having a saver on the in-form six-year-old in this weaker contest. However, he looks almost too obvious in this company and, as his plight when losing his action on testing ground at Exeter underlined, nothing is cast in stone. Therefore, with the likelihood of cramped odds being available, it may pay to leave no stone unturned in trying to secure a result. Thus, a further interest in Petrula is suggested, as the son of Tagula will have no problems with the underfoot conditions and, in his current form, can grant Graham Lee a welcome winner after his return from injury. It is also worth noting that Lee has a good record when riding for the yard and there are plenty of positive to give him a boost today.
