tracked leaders, led 5th, not fluent 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened flat
held up, ridden after 7th, headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat
behind, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, no extra close home
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway approaching 6th, weakened after next
Seeyaj gets our vote here ahead of Debbie and Alroyal. Seeyaj won a handicap from a mark of 98 in May and has performed creditably next time out from a seven-pound higher mark. However, he was disappointing when raised a further five pounds last time out but, back back in novice hurdle company in a race that lacks strength in depth, must go close. Course and distance winner Debbie rates his biggest danger, although the race may have been run to suit her when scoring and the question is can she repeat that effort? Charlie Mann's German import Alroyal showed promise on his hurdling debut and can also go well, although he was best at up to a mile in his native land. All-weather winner Ersaal, Sue Smith's Izzykeen and Richard Fahey's Quintoto, a Brighton winner who regressed quite sharply last year, make up the best of the rest but, for us, the vote goes to Seeyaj.