chased leaders, ridden after 3f out, weakened approaching last
made all, not fluent 1st, clear 2 out, eased flat
held up, ridden and headway after 3 out, weakenend
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, soon behind, held off
in touch, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on but no chance with winner
chased winner, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway when blundered and unseated rider 5th
always towards rear, behind and pulled up before 2 out
driven along in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, one-paced
some headway approaching 3 out, no impression after
This is a fairly wide-open contest with several classy horses dropped down in grade and a couple of youngsters moving through the ranks. Our Vic is one of those newcomers. This Martin Pipe-trained five-year-old has won both his first two starts, both successes coming on soft ground at Exeter and Taunton. If he can continue to improve he's going to be hard to beat, especially with the Champion Jockey on board. Reviewer struggled on his seasonal return last month, but he is a solid handicapper with solid flat speed and jumping ability. Clarendon has made a smooth transition from the flat to hurdling, but was well-beaten on his season bow at Kempton last month by Non So. That was, however, a Class B event so this drop back in grade may help his cause. Rigmarole finished behind Clarendon in that latest start, but had finished a close second to Maceo the time before in Class C company at Wetherby and earns an each-way nod. Brooklyn's Gold has been in great form so far this season winning two of his four starts and finishing a decent fourth to Never in Listed company at Newbury last time. Mark Pitman's team has been running into good form lately and his representative is Hot Shots. He was not too far off the pace at Kempton in late December, and should be watched for a return to form. Firestone won a decent Class C race at Chepstow last season, but has struggled to recapture that kind of form so far in this campaign and is another best watched.
