tracked leader, raced keenly, led approaching 5th, ridden and headed when not fluent 2 out, soon beaten, lost 2nd towards finish
held up, went 3rd 5th, 2nd 3 out, shaken up briefly soon after, led 2 out, clear before last, ran on well
tracked leaders, pulled hard, jumped big 1st, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, no impression before 2 out, took 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
led, jumped left 2nd, headed approaching 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
This will be an exacting test for these youngsters and it will be the one that copes best with the rigours of this test that prevails. Riguez Dancer is marginally preferred. The selection lowered the colours of Kalahari King on his penultimate start and wasn't disgraced in defeat on his latest. He's had a fairly hard time of things as late and may not appreciate ground as testing as this but sets the standard. How's Business created a decent impression when making her debut a winning one at Wetherby. The race wasn't the strongest and she has yet to encounter ground as testing as this but she has an obvious chance if handling it. Wildhuter does have soft ground form on the level but hasn't shown a great deal in three runs on faster ground over hurdles so needs to improve. Mujamead is feared as he won on soft ground over two and a half miles on Boxing Day and ran well for a long way in a competitive handicap at Market Rasen in the week. He has to give weight away all round though so we'll side with Riguez Dancer.
Mujamead 8-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway and in touch 6th, ridden and effort before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 22l behind Heir To Be (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Riguez Dancer Evensfav (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, headway 4 out, ridden next, chased winner last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Lazy Darren (10-13) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
How's Business 2-1 (10-10) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, clear when stumbled last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4yo fll hdl (5) gs in Feb beating Sharp Dresser (10-10) by 5l, 10 ran.
Wildhuter (GER) 20-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind First Buddy (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) gd.
