held up towards rear, ridden 6th, headway 3 out, weakened after next
with leader, led approaching 2 out, soon challenged and headed, ridden and no extra flat
held up, driven 4 out, ran on from 2 out, no extra flat (dismounted)
held up in touch, smooth headway to join leader 2 out, quickened to lead soon flat, very easily
led, ridden 3 out, weakening when headed approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next
A nine runner field ensures that this should be a decent betting race and the presence of Martin Pipe and Paul Nicholls-trained runners in the line-up means that we should have a better price than could normally have been expected about out the selection. Pipe's John Hunter has struggled to trouble the judge since winning a novice hurdle at Plumpton in April and, although better treated now than for some time, is readily opposable. The Paul Nicholls-trained Robyn Alexander was held when falling at Doncaster two starts ago and, although running better at Exeter last time, that is probably as good as he is at present. The selection then is the Philip Hobbs-trained Dantie Boy, who has been given a break since November while the going has been more testing than he requires and returns now that he has his favoured fast ground. The seven-year-old remains unexposed over hurdles and is taken to make a winning return to action for his in-form stable. The 10-year-old Serenus has claims on his best form off his current mark but has shown little sign of encouragement this term. Capriolo has become disappointing and a bigger danger to the selection may come from My Bold Boyo, who although below par on his last two starts is better on a faster surface and has conditions to suit here.
