held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, mistake 6th, ridden and weakened 2 out
always in touch, headway from 3 out, stayed on flat
soon clear, headed appraoching last, ridden and kept on well under pressure
behind, ridden 6th, weakened next, pulled up before last
tracked leader, ridden 2 out, weakened next
held up in touch, went prominent 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, slight lead last, ridden and ran on well
held up towards rear, headway 6th, soon one pace
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, eased when beaten
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
River Pirate is fancied to score a first success under Mick Fitzgerald, with Burning Truth and Pirandello most likely to fill the places. Nicky Henderson's charge was not disgraced when third on his hurdling bow at Sandown, but disappointed when favourite on a return to the Esher course on his only subsequent run. That was clearly not his form, and this better ground might be the key to him scoring his first win here. Burning Truth was a course and distance winner last October and is likely to strip fitter for his reappearance at Stratford last month, but may just struggle to concede 18 pounds to the selection, while Pirandello is on a hat trick after wins at Huntingdon and Stratford and Kim Bailey's horse should not be too far away.
