tracking leader when mistake and quickly pulled up 4th
held up in rear, headway and effort going easily approaching 2 out, joined leaders and every chance last, found nil and switched left flat and soon beaten
tracked leaders, led going easily after 3 out, mistake 2 out, joined and pressed from last, kept on gamely near finish
tracked leaders, left 2nd at 4th, joined leaders and every chance last, not quicken near finish
led, not fluent 6th, hit 3 out, soon headed and weakened rapidly
The card draws to a close with the second division of a modest heat in which Martin Pipe looks set to dominate. The Pond House handler is represented by Mirant who has been a beaten favourite on both hurdle starts to date but shaped well when runner-up behind a well regarded type at Doncaster last month and should go well at this level but preference is for stablemate Iberus. The son of Monsun was a useful performer in his native Germany and holds entries in both the Champion Hurdle and the Supreme Novice. It is fair to assume that the five-year-old has shown plenty of hurdling ability at home and the mount of Tony McCoy is expected to make a winning debut over timber. Distingo and Indien Royal have shown a fair level of form but may prove vulnerable to the selection who has a touch of class.
