led, headed approaching 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, no chance with winner
in touch, ridden 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on flat
chased leader, led approaching 5th, clear approaching last, ridden out
held up, effort 6th, soon weakened
always behind, pulled up before 2 out, bled from nose
chased leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
A super betting heat with the dead eight declared to face the starter and plenty of them with chances. The weights are headed by Mark Pitman's Hot Shots, who bounced back to form after having unseated his rider twice previously when a runaway winner at Wincanton recently (Best Wait behind and held). A 12lb rise since is far from harsh and he has to be respected despite top weight. Nicky Henderson's Green Ideal has claims on his second to Our Vic at Wincanton but the stable remains in a quiet spell and he is probably best watched. The Philip Hobbs-trained Clarendon has shown little since winning at Stratford in July and is difficult to recommend with any confidence and the vote goes to Sharmy. Ian Williams has his string in great form at present and, having been given a break from hurdling since falling at Warwick in November while the ground has become unsuitably testing, the son of Caerleon (who has been kept busy on the all-weather in the interim) can make a winning return off what looks a favourable mark. David Gandolfo's Candarli, who ran well after a three month break at Exeter recently, looks the best of the rest.
