held up towards rear, good headway after 5th, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway after 5th, shaken up to challenge when fell 2 out
made all, not fluent 2nd, hit 3rd, joined briefly 2 out, driven out
mid-division, headway after 5th, disputing 2nd when fell 3 out
tracking leaders when not fluent and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division, not fluent 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked winner, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway 4th to track winner, slightly outpaced 3 out, staying on when hampered 2 out, drifted left run-in, held near finish
lost touch 4th, soon tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, soon weakened
An interesting opener which could go the way of Paul Nicholls's Pride Of Dulcote, Nicky Henderson's Von Galen and Or Bleu are amongst others to consider. Pride Of Dulcote finished behind Or Bleu on debut in a bumper last May but raced very green that day and will know more about what's required now. He's sure to have been well schooled and he should handle conditions. Von Galen won two of his three starts in points in Ireland and the form of those races looks pretty strong. His stable is in flying form at present and he seems certain to be involved. Or Bleu has run well enough on his three starts over hurdles to suggest that he can figure whilst Silly Wupple and The Great Alfie have run well enough in bumpers to be of interest on their hurdling bows; the latter, in particular, may need a stiffer test than this to show his best though, so for the selection, we come back to Pride Of Dulcote.
