with winner, led 5th, ridden 3 out, soon headed, weakened next
held up in touch, not fluent, ridden and weakened 4 out
led, headed 5th, pressed leader 4 out, ridden and led after next, stayed on well flat
chased leaders, mistake 10th, soon ridden and weakened
in touch, mistake 8th, not fluent next, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat
As most of these have let their supporters down on more than one occasion in the past it is hard to throw any real conviction behind the chances of any of the quintet set to compete. Narrow Water had an inexplicably poor campaign last term and sets out on a retrieval mission on his first start for Jonjo O'Neill. But his failure to complete the course in five of his last six starts is too off-putting to merit consideration today over a trip that may be on the short side. Tom Costalot is another who is out to redeem a slightly tarnished profile after a below par reappearance at Haydock at the start of the month. Mick Fitzgerald's mount - along with Mitcheldean and Pettree - should have benefited from the run though and will be sure to attract support from the ring if he fits the bill on course. However, the need to find a at least one value selection on a day of favourites burdens Hidden Valley with the TEAMtalk hopes. The Jimmy Frost-trained 10-year-old is as tough as they come and the return to two-and-a-half miles could be just what is required for him to land a seventh career win.
