mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd last, kept on and hung left flat, not reach winner
took keen hold in mid-division, weakened after 3rd, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 3rd, ridden and weakened after 2 out
pulled hard in touch, headway to chase winner approaching 2 out, weakened last
made all, ridden clear approaching last easily
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened next
held up mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon lost place
held up, weakened from 3rd, tailed off 3 out
chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened next
always behind, tailed off from 2 out
Valeureux, Whispered Secret and Cumbrian Knight all have claims in a decent novices' hurdle but the vote goes to Bob The Piler, who has done little wrong so far and is taken resume winning ways. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding seemed not to stay 2m4f at Ascot last time and should be more at home back over today's trip. He is preferred to the admirable but exposed pair of Valeureux and Cumbrian Knight. A bigger threat may come from Richard Guest's Whispered Secret, who has had just two starts over timber and, while strictly held by Valeureux on running last time, the ex-German trained gelding is open to plenty of improvement. Dual bumper winner Word Gets Around looks the pick of Len Lungo's two runners in the race but faces no easy task on his hurdling debut, along with Mick Easterby's Gary's Pimpernel who is also having his first start over hurdles having run well in four outings in bumpers. Plenty with chances then in an interesting finale but the vote goes to Bob The Piler.
