jumped left 1st, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden when pecked 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out
with leader, led 2nd to 5th, led again approaching 2 out, driven out
jumped right, hampered 3rd, always behind
held up, ridden after 6th, soon weakened
in touch, blundered 6th, weakened next
led to 2nd, stayed prominent, outpaced after 3 out, kept on to take moderate 3rd flat
mid-division, pushed along after 5th, weakened after next
not jumped well, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3rd
help up, headway 6th, ridden and every chance final furlong, not quicken
The vote here goes to Marsh Run ahead of possibly Opera Hall, Maryland, Cream Cracker and Oscar's Vision. The Mick Easterby-trained selection looked a mare of some promise when winning a Listed bumper at Sandown in March, although that success came on testing going. Her hurdling debut over course and distance was also promising and, in what is a race that appears to lack strength in depth, she gets the call. Clichy, Vicky Bee, Topanberry, Opera Hall and Emerald Express have all shown bumper promise, although the latter has yet to transfer that to hurdling. Ding Dong Belle has looked beatable in this sphere so far, a similar comment applying to Oscars Vision, although they have both displayed some ability, while Cream Cracker has to improve to feature here, despite having also shown some promise. Maryland did well in bumpers last season, although she finished a long way behind the selection at Sandown. This brings us back to Marsh Run, who looks the one to beat.