held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out driven to chase leaders next, kept on, no impression
held up, reminders and outpaced 4th, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next
tracked leader, led approaching 5th ridden and headed after 3 out soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on comfortably
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, kept on
behind from halfway, tailed off from 3 out
led, headed approaching 5th soon ridden and weakened, tailed off from 2 out
held up in rear, always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Plenty of deadwood here and it could boil down to a rematch between Xaipete and Double Blade, who filled the first two places at Perth last week, and as Xaipete is better off at the weights in this, he should have little trouble confirming the form. A winner of 17 races, seven of them over hurdles, he has been a wonderful servant to connections over the years and unlike the majority of his rivals here, he still has the heart for a battle. Double Blade, four times a winner here, isn't the most straightforward of animals, but he does have his fair share of ability if the mood takes him. The winner of this event last year, he has a fair chance of following up, if on a going day. Shalbeblue is another who goes well here and even though he comes here fit from the flat, he looks to have too much on with the front pair on these terms. Dabus has more too do than when winning a seller here earlier this month, and while he has place claims, this looks set to go the way of Xaipete, who is best in at the weights.
