mid-division, pushed along and lost place 4 out, no danger after
held up in touch, hit 3rd, headway 4 out, led next, ridden out
with leader, ridden 4 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, weakening when mistake 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
made most to 3 out, every chance next, kept on one pace
pulled hard in rear, headway 4 out, brief effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
with leader, ridden and weakend after 4 out
held up in touch, every chance 3 out and 2 out, kept on under pressure
tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened before next
towards rear, never dangerous
held up in touch, headway 4 out to track leaders, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
Given Mary Reveley's fine record with her hurdlers at the course, the 10-year-old October Mist has to be respected but preference is for Claymore, who gets the nod over Petrula. The last mentioned is unexposed as a hurdler but would probably prefer a faster surface. The prevailing conditions should not inconvenience the likes of Silvertown, After Me Boys or Man Murphy but all three have long absences to overcome and are probably best watched today. Micky Hammond's Tee-Jay has more to do off her new mark than when winning her last two starts, while the Venetia Williams-trained Derivative is another that seems to be plenty high enough in the weights now. Admittedly Claymore is now 8lbs higher than when scoring at Exeter in November but Oliver Sherwood's gelding remains well treated, judged not only on that success but also on his current chase rating, and is taken to resume winning ways after an unlucky defeat over the larger obstacles at Chepstow last time.
