mid-division, headway approaching 6th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching next, kept on same pace
tracked leader, led 5th, not fluent and headed after 3 out, soon ridden, one-paced
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden next, weakened
held up, steady headway from 5th, challenged winner 2 out, ridden and every chance last, not quicken
held up in touch, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, ran on well flat, ridden out
held up and always behind
prominent, jumped slowly 1st, held up in rear after, weakened after 6th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, gradually faded from 5th
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
led and raced green, hit 2nd, headed 5th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
held up in touch until weakened approaching 3 out
Spring Pursuit is an interesting recruit to hurdles. Formerly a fair middle distance handicapper on the flat, he rather lost his way this season and it will be interesting to see if this change to hurdling rekindles his enthusiasm. Baileys Prize was also a fair handicapper on the level, but has not really featured in his two starts over timber so far, and is probably best watched for now. Jahash was inferior to these two on the flat, but is now with a stable that has to be respected in a race like this and is one to watch in the market. That said, we give a confident TEAMtalk vote to Gin Palace. Gary Moore's charge is rated 80 on the flat, much higher than any of his rivals here. In addition, he showed plenty of promise on his two hurdling starts last season, including on his last start when second behind a smart French prospect at Kempton in February. Amazingly, the six horses who finished immediately behind him have all won since, so it would be an understatement to say that the form looks solid. It is unlikely that Gin Palace will meet anything of that calibre here, and he should have little trouble in recording his first win over timber.
