tracked leader, led 9th, headed 10th, blundered and unseated rider next
held up in rear,headway 10th, left in lead 5 out, headed between last two, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, led 10th, fell 5 out
held up towards rear, headway 12th, left 2nd 5 out, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead between last two, stayed on well
led, headed 9th, pushed along next, left 3rd 5 out, soon lost touch, behind when pulled up before 2 out, lame
With plenty of questions to be answered about the jumping of the likely favourite Mister Dave's, we will oppose him here with the Tim Easterby-trained Doe Nal Rua, who receives a handy 6lb. The selection has had just the one outing over fences thus far, when he was not disgraced in defeat behind the useful Inching Closer at Newcastle after a blunder some way out cost him any real chance of success. The seven-year-old has been given a month to get over those exertions and with some good hurdles form under his belt, his yard's excellent record here over the years, and the likelihood of further schooling to straighten him out, he can land this prize. Mister Dave's would be the obvious pick based on his good ground win here before Christmas, but having taken a tumble on both his two subsequent outings, his confidence is likely to have taken a knock and with little form on soft ground he is opposed today. Of the remainder Ossmoses should appreciate some cut and can chase the other pair home, but the one to be on here is Doe Nal Rua.
