in touch, headway 5th, ridden and behind from 3 out, pulled up before next
held up, ridden and headway 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden and weakened from 3 out
held up, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous
always behind, weakened from 3 out
held up, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
in rear, ridden after 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, kept on to go 2nd after last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders and keen, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden to go 2nd approaching next, weakened approaching last
A fairly competitive event with a number of in-form rivals in opposition including three last time out winners. They include Andrew Doble who confirmed his promising effort in novice company earlier in the month when notching a comfortable handicap success (off a mark of 88) at Fakenham last week. There should be more to come from this lightly raced son of Sabrehill who will make his presence felt despite a 7lb penalty. Cooling Off had gone off the boil of late but enjoyed a confidence booster when landing a seller last month. However, the Brief Truce mare returns to handicap company off a whopping 15lb higher mark which looks likely to prevent a follow up so the vote goes to Ei Ei. Michael Chapman's charge has been in good heart of late over both fences and timber as he showed when taking advantage of a lenient rating to lift a handicap hurdle at Huntingdon last month. The eight-year-old remains well treated on his chase form despite a subsequent 6lb rise and the drying conditions will be in his favour so he should take plenty of beating under his regular conditional jockey. Lunar Lord has clearly been difficult to train of late and is struggling to recapture last season's Flat form but Little Big Horse has proved a model of consistency in similar company and can reach a place once again.
