in touch, driven along approaching 6th, weakening approaching last
mid-division, ridden and lost place approaching 5th, soon tailed off
led 1st, headed next, stayed prominent until ridden and lost place 5th, soon weakened
always prominent, mistake 4th, ridden to chase leader 6th, every chance 2 out, no extra
held up mid-division, ridden and stayed on from 3 out, ran on after last, nearest finish
held up in rear, took closer order on wide outside 4th, steady headway to track leader approaching 2 out, led last, very easily, cheekily
mid-division until ridden and weakened 6th
keen, always behind, tailed off after 4th
led 2nd, ridden when joined 2 out, headed soon after, switched left after last, rallied until faded close home
Division Two of the maiden hurdle looks to have presented the highly-regarded Cheltenham Festival Bumper runner-up, Rhinestone Cowboy, with a fine opportunity to open his hurdling winning account at the first time of asking. Benbecula was second in a very good bumper here last December but ran as though something was amiss last time out and has not been seen since. Mouse Morris has sent Equivocal over from Ireland and, while he has shown evidence of ability on bumpers and maiden hurdles, he is probably not the strongest of the Irish trainer's Newbury raiding party. Nicky Henderson's Far Horizon showed plenty of promise as a novice but has not been seen since January 2001. He might just need this. Henderson is also represented by Kyper Disco who has hinted at promise. Henrietta Knight's Melford is the type to win races but stable jockey Jim Culloty has opted to ride West Coaster, who was in the process of running a good race behind the decent Thisthatandtother at Wincanton on his last run when falling. Pip Moss's Warwick run was reasonable but a lot more is required and Neltina, making her hurdling debut, won a mares' only bumper at the same track. Zapata Highway showed some promise on his seasonal return but did not follow that up at Kempton. There is no getting away from Jonjo O'Neill's Rhinestone Cowboy, who is the TEAMtalk selection.
