tracked leaders, headway 3 out, hit next, ridden and every chance approaching last, stayed on flat
held up in rear, pushed along 3 out, ridden and headway after next, stayed on well flat
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, headway on bit approaching 3 out, led between last 2, not fluent last, stayed on
tracked leader, headway to challenge 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace from next
set steady pace, mistake 4th, driven after 2 out, headed between last 2, no extra flat
Despite the lack of numbers this is quite a competitive opener with recent course and distance winner Nandoo again doing battle with the runner-up Dazzling Rio, but they may both be playing for places behind hurdling debutante Zibeline. A smart handicapper at on the flat (rated 92 at his best), Brian Ellison's six-year-old couldn't have been found an easier opening for his hurdling debut, and he is taken to outclass his rivals. Nandoo is some 60lbs inferior to the selection on the level, but she left her flat form well behind when scoring here earlier this month. However, she looks to face an impossible task under her penalty, although, she may be capable of confirming the form with Dazzling Rio, even on these revised terms. The latter has plenty of experience over timber and may not be capable of as much improvement as the filly. Red Society has shown next to nothing in his outings over hurdles, both in Ireland and here. Baby Jane is sure to need this outing, her first for over six years, so this looks best left to Zibeline, who should have little difficulty in getting off the mark.
