raced keenly, mostly chased leader, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd approaching 4th, chased leaders, led before went left 2 out, clear when went left again last, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
kept wide, held up last, hit 8th and pushed along, some headway on wide outside before 3 out, soon beaten
took keen hold, chased leaders, hit 3 out, pushed along and no extra in 4th before 2 out
raced on inside, chased leaders until lost place 5th, reminders after 3 out, rapid headway on outside to chase winner and chance 2 out, ridden and no extra between last 2, no chance with winner
made most, mistake and pushed along after 8th, headed soon after 3 out, chased leader, led again briefly before 2 out, ridden and no extra in 3rd between last 2
chased leaders, 2nd before 4th, challenged and hit 3 out, led soon after, headed and weakened rapidly before next, tailed off
Ding Ding won last year’s renewal and has scored again here subsequently. But she’s been struggling lately and so has Graasten. The latter won over these hurdles in 2016 but had just the one start last year when a well beaten favourite at Uttoxeter and a chance is taken on stablemate JUSTIFICATION (NAP). The latter is now back on a winning mark and after posting a better effort when placed at Wincanton recently, he gets the nod. Theydon Park has only won a bumper so far but still looks best of the rest.
Graasten (GER) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, every chance when not fluent next, 4th and weakening 2 out, 4th of 7, 27 1/2l behind Broughtons Rhythm (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Justification 8-1 (10-11) Held up, closed when not fluent 3 out, 3rd next, no impression, no extra last, 3rd of 5, 11 3/4l behind Captain Cattistock (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Theydon Park 33-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, smooth headway 5 out, chased leaders next, every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 9l behind The Game Is A Foot (10-13) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Ding Ding 50-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, ridden in remote 8th after 4 out, soon well behind, 8th of 11, dist behind First Assignment (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Norse Legend 16-1 (11-1) Held up in rear weakened before 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ladofash 14-1 (9-3) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 13 3/4l behind Deebaj (9-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp (6) pol in Jan.
