tracked leader, led 4 out, hit 2 out, edged left before last, ridden when idled flat, edged left, in command towards finish
patiently ridden, held up, headway to go 3rd approaching 4 out, stayed on to chase winner 2 out, challenged flat, not quicken towards finish
pulled hard, ran wide, pulled up before 1st
held up in touch, pulled hard, losing ground on leaders from 7th, weakened approaching 4 out
prominent, niggled along and losing ground on front pair from 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up before last
led to 4 out, weakened after last
held up, hit 4th, losing touch from 7th, tailed off
All eyes will be on Psychomodo here and he should take all the beating if none the worse for his crashing fall at Sandown. Desert Quest and City Affair are best of the rest. The selection made a decent start to his hurdling career but connections opted to send him chasing at Sandown last month and it was plain to see why. He jumped beautifully throughout the early exchanges and looked sure to run Noland and My Petra very close indeed until taking a crashing fall at the second last. It remains to be seen how he comes out of that but connections must feel that he's none the worse for the experience and he's unlikely to have as much pressure put on his jumping in this company. Another concern is the sharpness of the track and the trip given that he has shown most of his form on more testing ground and over further but he should be able to get away with it. Desert Quest is a classy performer but not the easiest to win with and is always a horse to take on; his second to Modicum is a perfectly decent run but once again he didn't look too keen to go past. City Affair could pose a bigger threat but this is his chase debut; he made rapid strides as a hurdler in the summer, goes well fresh and represents an up and coming yard. It'll be interesting to see how he goes but Psychomodo is the one to beat.
Desert Quest (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) In touch, smooth headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, hung left, soon one pace, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Modicum (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd in Feb.
City Affair 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, ridden after 6th, soon struggling, 14th of 17, 39l behind Pigeon Island (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Orrezzo (GER) 9-2 (10-5) Tracked winner until 8th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 4, 30l behind Gods Token (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd.
Pret A Thou (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 4th, ridden after 8th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 6, 18l behind Manhattan Boy (11-0) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) sft.
Psychomodo 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, every chance when fell 2 out in race won by Noland (11-3) at Sandown 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb, 5 ran.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Held up, reminders 4th, effort 7th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 24l behind Cleymor House (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Making Overtures 150-1 (10-5) Held up, mistake 9th, lost touch 12th, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Blaeberry (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f mrs nov chs (3) gd in Feb.
