held up, never near leaders
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway 6th, ridden to go 2nd and mistake 2 out, no chance with winner
chased winner, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
3rd when fell 1st
made all, mistake 6th, clear from 9th, eased last
held up, hampered 1st, fell 3rd
Manoram is selected to beat Colliers Court and Ifrane Balima, with Kew Jumper not to be dismissed entirely. This has the makings of a tight little contest, but Manoram has shown enough of late to warrant support. The Ian Williams-trained gelding has plenty of scope to progress over fences at the age of five, and has already proved his worth over the Cheltenham fences, beating Ardashir convincingly last time. Granted he would probably have only finished second had My Will not departed at the first, but are any of these as good as the latter. The answer is no, and so this consistent sort is taken to follow up. Colliers Court will have his supporters after his all the way success over the course and distance three weeks ago, but that was a class F, and this will be his first venture into D company. Ifrane Balima was unlucky to be brought down when holding every chance in a hurdles race at Taunton on his first start since March. He has not impressed on a couple of previous efforts over the bigger obstacles in the past though and is best watched. Saafend Rocket has topweight to overcome and his yard is yet to hit top gear, and Flower of Pitcur returns from an absence. All in all, Manoram must have major claims.
