reluctant to start, in rear, close up after 3rd, ridden and weakened 4f out, tailed off
tracked leader until 4th(usual 5 out), tailed off
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
close up, ridden 4f out, weakened final furlong
led, hit 3rd, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish
in touch in rear, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
in touch, ridden last(usual 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Tactics could play a part in this as both MADE FOR YOU, an all-the-way course and distance winner last time, and Theocrat both ran the opposition into the ground last time. The Olly Murphy inmate clearly enjoys this track so just gets the nod, though Nigel Hawke regularly pitches juvenile hurdlers into handicaps against their elders once they've accumulated sufficient experience. Barnay also adopted make-all tactics when obliging at Carlisle in February but Smart Getaway, a stablemate of the selction, returns after a 549-day absence.
Dream Du Grand Val (FR) 40-1 (11-10) Led into start, in rear, pushed along 4 out, weakened next, jumped right 2 out, 6th of 7, 34 1/2l behind Glimpse Of Gold (10-13) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Barnay 5-1 (11-7) Led, hard ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, no impact after last, 4th of 6, 6 3/4l behind Elysian Flame (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Made For You 10-3jfav (11-9) Made all, led, shaken up when pressed on the run to 2 out, led narrowly 2 out and last, driven out and went clear run-in, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Mar beating Kapitaliste (10-5) by 8l, 7 ran.
Dariya (USA) 25-1 (11-11) Held up, pushed along before 5th, left behind 3 out, 10th of 11, dist behind Hurricane Ali (10-6) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Theocrat (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led, not fluent 1st, awkward 3 out, drew clear travelling stronly when hit 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Taunton 2m hcp (5) gf in Apr beating An Tailliur (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Smart Getaway (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Trapper Peak (11-1) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Lucky Icon (IRE) 12-1 (12-2) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 9, 21 1/4l behind Barnay (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Feb.