mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
tracked leader, hit 4th, blundered 4 out, soon led, ridden next, hit last, headed flat, no extra
led, ridden and headed after 4 out, hit 2 out, ran on flat
held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
held up and mistakes, headway approaching 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on to lead flat
held up, ridden after 4 out, headway next, no impression
This looks to be the weaker of the two divisions and Howard Johnson may again be the trainer to follow with Young Scotton preferred to Millagros and Relix. The selection has yet to reproduce his bumper form of last season over hurdles but may be worth another chance in a poor contest, especially having shown improved form on his most recent outing. Ferdy Murphy's Relix has been highly tried in all three starts this season and this represents a drop in class for the five-year-old so he has to be respected. The Nicky Richards-trained Top Pack may be better than he showed first time out but is difficult to recommend with any confidence and of more interest may be Ian Semple's Millagros who has had plenty of racing on the flat but looked a likely future winner over hurdles when finding just Zanjeer too good at Catterick on her hurdling debut. George Moore's Spes Bona would need to improve on flat form to win this and preference is for Young Scotton to open his hurdling account.
