led and soon clear, hit last, soon ridden, headed and no extra final 100 yards
jumped right, took keen hold mid-division, headway 7th, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat
held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden and hit last, stayed on to lead final 100 yards
mid-division, ridden after 7th, soon weakened
prominent, chased leader 6th, ridden approaching last, one pace flat
always behind
blundered 2nd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden approaching last, one pace flat
pulled hard, soon chasing leaders, ridden after 7th, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
A race that isn't as competitive as the sheer volume of runners may indicate. If he has recovered from his fall in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, Prince Dimitri is confidently anticipated to take the opener for Martin Pipe. The horse is yet to race on fast ground over hurdles but he handled it on the flat so there should be few realistic doubts about his ability to do so here. Calatigan looks the potential fly-in-the-ointment. He too was a previous race faller but this occurred at Newcastle before the end of last year. Malcolm Jefferson¿s four-year-old did win a weak contest at Catterick convincingly on his hurdling bow and could literally be anything. The Last Mohican was outclassed by the useful French Mannequin at Folkestone and looks booked for a place. Of the remainder, Don't Sioux me makes plenty of appeal. Although he is still a maiden over hurdles, Conor Dore's charge has shown glimpses of ability in his two races at Huntingdon and was much superior to a number of these on the flat. Gingko has had plenty of chances to break his duck whilst Heathyards Friend's sole win came in a very modest Doncaster seller.
