mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, headway after 4th, ridden 6th, weakened next
in touch, every chance when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, weakened flat
held up, headway after 6th, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied 2 out, one pace flat
led to 3rd, led again 5th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, headway 7th, led last, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, every chance last, not quicken flat
with leaders, led 3rd to 5th, ridden to lead again 3 out, headed last, one pace flat
behind, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
A decent handicap hurdle in which last time out winners Champagne Lil and Captain Zinzan will undoubtedly have their supporters but preference is for the Philip Hobbs-trained Dantie Boy, who showed enough at Hereford on his most recent start to suggest that he can take this. A 2lb rise since then is far from harsh and, with ground conditions to suit, he gets the vote. Champagne Lil and Captain Zinzan both have more to do off their revised marks in this better company and a bigger threat may be Barcelona, who races off the same mark as when second to Punchy at Fontwell last time having run away with a similar contest at the same track the time before. The Venetia Williams-trained Derivative is not dismissed lightly but we are happy to stick with the selection.
