always towards rear
prominent, lost place approaching 4th, soon behind
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden when left 2nd 3 out, no extra towards finish
led, ridden and headed after 6th, 2nd and 2 lengths down when fell 3 out
in touch, led after 6th, ridden clear 2 out, eased flat
prominent, ridden after 5th, weakened after next
in touch, ridden after 3rd, weakening when hampered 3 out
behind, ridden and headway when hampered 3 out, ran on flat
held up, ridden and headway when hampered 3 out, ran on to go 2nd towards finish
took keen hold, always toward rear
This looks the ideal opportunity for Vaughan to lose his maiden tag over hurdles with Predator and Political Intrigue the two most likely candidates to thwart his effort. The Henry Daly-trained five-year-old was a decent handicapper on the flat for Amanda Perrett and has made a good start over hurdles. He was second behind the useful, Welcome Stranger at Warwick last month and he looks well treated on his handicap-debut. Political Intrigue won a novice hurdle over this course and distance on his first start over hurdles before disappointing in the Adonis hurdle at Sandown in February. He is another who could exploit a generous mark on his first start in handicap-company. Predator was fourth behind the impressive Temoin at Newbury last month having chased home Prairie Moonlight at this course in January. He is two-pound higher today but that was a better event than this and a repeat performance would see him go very close but we will stick with our selection Vaughan.
Zalda 10-3jt-fav (11-11) Held up, headway 3 out, soon driven along, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 9, 35l behind Tessanoora (10-10) at Worcester 2m mrs hcp hdl (3) gd in Mar.
Milligan (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 7l behind Kandjar D'allier (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Vaughan 6-5fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden and every chance from 2 out, ran on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Welcome Stranger (11-0) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Predator (GER) 5-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, with leaders, made most from 3rd, narrowly headed 3 out, chased leader to 2 out, weakening when hit last, 4th of 17, 15l behind Temoin (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Political Intrigue 12-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led before 3rd, mistake 4th, not fluent after, headed 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Kasbah Bliss (11-5) at Sandown 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Fortune Point (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 4th, led briefly 5th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 9l behind Lord Lington (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Oct.
Carte Sauvage (USA) 7-1 (10-11) Prominent, tracked leader 5th, ridden 8th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, well behind Present Glory (10-11) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (D) gf in Nov.
Theatre Tinka (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hit 2nd, headway 5th, ridden to lead last, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar beating Fixateur (11-5) by 3l, 15 ran.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Held up, headway 4th, with leader when fell 4 out in race won by Spike Jones (11-10) at Chepstow 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Canadian Storm 11-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, stumbled after 2 out, switched right last, ran on, 4th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Barella (11-0) at Ludlow 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jan.
