led, clear after 3rd, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leader until approaching 5th, ridden and weakened well before next
in touch, not fluent 1st, headway when not fluent 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
always behind, tailed off approaching 5th
in touch and keen, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, some headway approaching 5th, soon beaten
always behind, tailed off after 4th
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
prominent, lost place approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, headway approaching 5th, joined leader 3 out, ridden to lead after next, not fluent last, driven out
in touch, ridden and lost touch approaching 3 out
prominent, jumped slowly 3rd, mistake 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
Barney Curley's Muskatsturm, a Group 3 winner on the flat in Germany, only claimed a distant second behind Mughas (winner since) at Warwick on his British hurdling debut thanks to the falls of Prince Dimitri and Saratov. While there may be improvement to come for that experience, especially with the application of blinkers that he wore on the flat, the son of Lecroix needs to improve on his first effort to take a hand here. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Lewis Island arguably has the best form on offer having made all to beat Moneytrain (winner since) at Leicester in December and, although running well in two subsequent defeats at Chepstow and Warwick, he may again struggle under the penalty for that earlier win. Chepstow claiming hurdle winner Robbie Can Can and Vigoureux, successful in France but without a start in this country for new connections, also have to concede weight all round and may not be up to the task. Red Wine is an interesting debutante from the stable of Jamie Osborne. The son of Hamas ended the last Flat racing season in good form with a hat-trick of handicap successes over trips from 1m2f to 1m4f at Bath and Doncaster (twice), latterly in the November Handicap. If fit enough after a three month break and, if taking to hurdles, he could go close. The selection though is Martin Pipe's Visibility. A winner on the flat for Andre Fabre in France, the son of Linamix ran a promising race on his British debut when beaten just a length-and-a-half and two lengths behind Tramantanoo and Nas Na Riogh. A subsequent second to the Philip Hobbs-trained Andy Gin may prove to be better form than was first thought and, in receipt of weight, he looks worth a chance.
