always prominent, led 4th, not fluent and headed briefly 7th, drew well clear from 4 out, very easily
held up, mistake 3rd, ridden after 11th, weakened and jumped left from 3 out
tracked leaders, led briefly 7th, with winner when blundered badly and unseated rider 12th
led until fluent and headed 4th, chased leaders, ridden after 11th, well behind in 2nd 3 out, lost 2nd last
tracked leaders, mistakes 5th, 7th and 10th, not fluent 12th, soon ridden, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
held up, mistake 3rd, weakened 12th
in touch, took closer order 10th, left 2nd and hampered 12th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
never fluent or travelling, pulled up after 7th
Russian Around may be the answer to this tricky puzzle but Barbers Shop is feared and Oscar Park a fascinating debutant. Cardenas was formerly smart but has it to prove now and Star Shot has plenty to find on the book so it's best to concentrate on the three principals. Oscar Park failed to give his running last time but he's a very decent staying hurdler at his best and must be respected as he makes this belated switch to chasing with his yard going really well at present. Barbers Shop has always been held in high regard and went some way to justifying that when making Big Buck's pull out all the stops on his chase bow at Newbury. He was stepped up in grade and trip to contest the Feltham next time and, although he lost little caste in defeat, his jumping was far from fluent and a shade disappointing. He'll be fancied to set the record straight today but faces a potentially smart rival in Russian Around. He held every chance of beating Acambo when the pair fell at the last on his chase bow before having a confidence boosting run round here next time. His latest run at Folkestone behind the Henderson trained Classic Fiddle was much more like it and he wouldn't need to improve by too much to give the likely favourite a real fright; so we'll take a chance with Russian Around.
Barbers Shop 7-2 (11-7) Held up, hit 4th headway to lead 7th, headed 10th, prominent, blundered badly 14th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 6, 8l behind Joe Lively (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Cardenas (GER) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, in touch until weakened 11th, 5th of 6, 47l behind Oslot (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Oscar Park (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, last of 9, 46l behind Hills Of Aran (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Palmers Peak (IRE) 15-8fav (12-0) Prominent, left in lead 14th, headed & outpaced app last, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Tooley Park (12-0) at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd.
Russian Around (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Prominent, blundered 8th, ridden and hampered 3 out, switched right 2 out, every chance when hampered last, not recover, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Classic Fiddle (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Shelomoh (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, no impression, 8th of 17, 25l behind Kidithou (10-4) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr.
Star Shot (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Towards rear, headway after 9th, chasing leaders when fell 4 out in race won by Thunder Rock (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Whist Drive 33-1 (11-2) Soon in rear, mistake 3rd, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Bengo (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
