in touch, ridden after 6th, chased winner before 2 out, stayed on under pressure, weakened last and lost 2nd flat
held up, hampered 6th, soon ridden and weakened
pulled hard in touch, weakened quickly after 5th, tailed off
towards rear, headway 4th, weakened after next
pulled hard, tracked winner, ridden after 5th, weakened quickly before last
tracked leaders, chased winner 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up behind, headway after 3 out, stayed on for 2nd after last, no chance with winner
held up in touch, blundered 5th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up, ridden along 5th, weakened 3 out and soon tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, kept on same pace, weakened before last
close up, lost place after 5th, soon beaten
towards rear, headway 6th, stayed on same pace
made all, ridden clear 2 out, easily
Woody Valentine created a favourable impression when making a winning debut over hurdles at Warwick last month before getting bogged down in the mud at Chepstow and is taken to resume winning ways at the main expense of newcomers Zalda and Barranco. The last mentioned is a likely type on pedigree being by Sadler's Wells but lack of previous experience is of concern. The Philip Hobbs-trained Zalda has yet to race over hurdles but was a dual middle distance handicap winner on the flat for Roger Charlton and could be the type to make the grade over hurdles. Peter Bowen's Charlie Bear and Henry Daly's Rumbling Bridge have both shown enough to suggest that they could win races over hurdles and have to be respected. City Palace got no further than the first flight on his hurdling debut and is another to consider but the vote goes to Woody Valentine. Useful at his best for Mark Johnston on the level, the son of Woodman need only reproduce the form of his Warwick run to win this.
