led, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, weakened
held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, one-paced and beaten when mistake 2 out
keen hold, tracked leaders, hard ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up, no chance last, stayed on under pressure flat, no danger
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 5th, weakened before 2 out
held up, headway after 4th, ridden to challenge 2 out, weakened quickly under pressure
chased leader to 5th, weakened quickly, tailed off
in rear, mistake 4th, headway before 2 out, 3rd and held when hit last, lost 3rd flat
held up and behind, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, took 3rd flat
held up and behind, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, effort and every chance last, no extra flat
chased leaders until after 3 out, no chance with eased before last
held up, steady headway from 5th, led approaching 2 out, narrow leader when hit last, stayed on well flat
Martin Pipe has landed this event on no less than six previous occasions and the Nicholashayne handler has a strong hand once again with three representatives. Mr Cool comes here in good form having only been collared in the closing stages by the mighty Baracouda at Ascot last month. However, the son of Jupiter Island was greatly flattered by the way the race was run and will struggle under top weight in this company. Idaho d'Ox has claims on the pick of his form but has been well below his best of late and is passed over in favour of stablemate Samon who gets the TEAMtalk vote. Formerly a useful Flat middle distance winner in his native Germany, the son of Monsun created a strong impression when an easy winner on his hurdling bow at Taunton in January before being pitched in at the deep end in the Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle at the Festival. The five-year-old was never able to land a blow on that occasion but looks capable of plenty of improvement and should prove hard to beat having proven form in the mud. Quazar was a progressive sort last term and has run creditably in defeat on both starts this season but shapes as though a step up in trip will suit ideally. Deep Sunset enters calculations off a fair mark and will be sharper for a recent return while Jaboune is very much on the upgrade having rattled up four novice wins this term and was far from disgraced when second (now 2lb higher) in a valuable handicap at Newbury late last month. The consistent Sud Bleu and mudloving Irish raider Spirit Leader are others to consider at the foot of the weights.
