soon led, mistake 6th, headed 3 out, weakened before next
held up, blundered 3rd, mistake 3 out, weakened quickly
held up and behind, headway 6th, challenged after 3 out, led before 2 out, mistake last, headed near finish
prominent until weakened before 3 out
took keen hold and held up in rear, headway under pressure before 3 out, driven to chase leaders next, stayed on under pressure to lead near finish
in touch, ridden to lead narrowly 3 out, soon headed and weakened before next
close up, challenged 3 out, weakened before next
prominent to 5th, weakened quickly, tailed off
took keen hold, close up until weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off
in touch, reminder after 2nd, led soon after 3 out, headed and mistake next, one pace before last
always behind, struggling after 6th, tailed off
always in rear, tailed off
Forest Tune has run well in both his starts over hurdles this term, latterly behind Greenhope at Kempton, but may find conditions too testing here and preference is for Shaman, who gets the vote over Diamonds Will Do. The last mentioned is trained by Venetia Williams, has slipped back to a fair mark and has the assistance of the ever increasingly impressive Sam Thomas. However, a doubt remains concerning his ability to handle ground as testing as this and we prefer to side with Shaman. Gary Moore's gelding had form in the heavy on the flat and lost no caste in defeat here behind Barton Nic over course and distance last time. A reproduction of that effort may suffice. L'Etang Bleu has claims on his best but has disappointed in his last two starts, while both Storm Prince and Pharly Reef have a long absence to overcome. The Milton Harris-trained Kandjar d'Allier is probably better than he has shown in recent starts but this should go to Shaman, who gets the vote.
