behind, some headway 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up, headway 3 out, mistake, weakened after next
with leader, led 5th, mistake 4 out, headed soon after next, weakened rapidly, tailed off
mistake 2nd, in touch, led going well soon after 3 out, headed last, not quicken flat
took keen hold, prominent, smooth headway going well after 3 out,e.c last, ridden and not quicken flat, broke blood vessel
always in rear, behind from 6th, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened rapidly approaching 2 out, mistake, pulled up before last
held up, ridden approaching 4 out, struggling from next
always behind, lost touch from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, ridden after 3 out, effort next, led ladt, driven and stayed on well flat
led to 5th, close up until weakened quickly approaching 2 out
chased leaders until ridden and weakened quickly 3 out, tailed off
held up, headway 4 out, mistake and weakened next
It is strange that connections have elected to run Effectual back over hurdles after just the one outing over fences. The ten-year-old is hardly likely to be improving over hurdles at his age and is easily passed over. Former useful chaser His Song is still capable of fair form over hurdles, but it would be a surprise if there wasn't something to beat him on these terms. Stablemate Far Horizon has obviously had his problems, but the nine-year-old is lightly raced and should be capable of improvement. Another trainer to be double handed is Henrietta Knight, who runs both Returning and One Nation. The former has lost his way over fences and this looks likely to be a confidence booster, as he isn't that well handicappped over timber, while One Nation was also returning to hurdles last time, having not taken to chasing. He will be that much sharper here and could run into a place. Serenus finds it difficult to win, while Persian Waters will surely need the outing. Tik-A-Tai may find this trip to sharp around here and Hopbine looks to have something to prove now off his present mark. Northern raider Il Cavaliere will be a danger to all. He had a nice confidence booster when winning his maiden easily at Musselburgh and while this will be much tougher, he must not be underestimated. However, the one they all have to beat is Paul Webber's Protagonist, who bounced back to form here on Boxing Day. The Cropredy handler has his string in much better form now, having been slow to start with and this In The Wings gelding is taken to defy his 6lbs rise in the handicap and land his biggest prize to date.
