mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace
held up, headway after 6th, ridden and not much room when not fluent 3 out, weakened next
chased leader, led approaching 3 out, pushed out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
pulled hard, always behind
soon chasing leaders to 5th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
Forest Tune has hit a rich vein of form over hurdles of late and is the choice to follow up last month's handicap success over course and distance. Ben Hanbury's charge jumped fluently and appeared to win with a little in hand off a mark of 103 and should take plenty of beating back in novice-company under a penalty. The five-year-old had also finished a close second behind the smart Gin Palace at Plumpton in February to suggest a race of this nature is well within his compass. North Point was understandably outclassed in the Supreme Novices Hurdle last time but has claims on his C&D victory in late February and rates a danger along with Alvino. The latter is a dual bumper winner who appeared to fail for stamina on his hurdling debut over two-and-a-half miles at Hereford and could be a different proposition over this more suitable trip.
