led to 2nd, chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened next, tailed when pulled up before 3 out
held up, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden clear 2 out, ran on
with leader, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
mistakes, took keen hold, always towards rear
mid-division, blundered 6th, ridden after next, soon weakened
held up, headway 7th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, stayed on
with leaders, led 2nd, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened next
Richard Guest's Lik Wood Power ran too badly to be true at Worcester last time and is given another chance to fulfil the promise of his earlier performances over fences, with Marked Man and New Bird rated the main dangers. The selection unexposed over hurdles but has always looked more likely to make a better chaser and it came as no surprise when this son of Bigstone opened his account over the larger obstacles at the first time of asking at Hereford last month. Impressive on his handicap debut at Wetherby subsequently, Lik Wood Power ran no race at Worcester last time and it is probably too soon to discount him. Last time out course and distance winner Marked Man has more to do off his new mark and a bigger threat may come from Heather Dalton's New Bird, who ran encouragingly on his return at Cheltenham in April. An absence since is a concern though. Tom George has his string in good form at present so Cobbet has to be respected along with the Philip Hobbs trained Toi Express and Sue Smith's Taakid. Richard Guest's Bernadon is another worthy of a mention but it is stablemate Lik Wood Power that gets the vote to resume winning ways.
