mid-division, headway 4th, led approaching 3 out, driven out
prominent, led 3rd, ridden and headed when hit 3 out, kept on flat
prominent to 5th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 3 out, weakened last
mid-division, ridden and outpaced 5th, stayed on flat, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden after 4th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, brief effort 5th, soon weakened
led to 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, stayed on flat, not reach winner
mid-division, ridden after 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 5th, kept on flat
mid-division, headay 4th, ridden 3 out, went 2nd and not fluent last, no extra towards finish
not jump well, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Despite fielding a few winners this is not a strong novices' event and can be taken by Ilabon, with Green Tango and Zonergem rated the big dangers. The selection was an easy Chepstow winner under Tony McCoy last time out, when nothing else got into the race, and as he goes on a sound surface he looks capable of following up with Jamie Moore reducing the effect of his penalty from the plate. Green Tango carries topweight and goes on any ground. Henry Daly's charge is another typical chaser-in-the-making from that yard, so anything he achieves over hurdles is a bonus. He looked useful when landing his first two timber outings at Ludlow and Huntingdon before coming unstuck under a penalty at Aintree last time. This is a much easier race though and his chance is respected. The same can be said of Zonergem, who loves fast ground on the level and finished a decent second on his only hurdles outing to date. Given a break since his latest all weather outing in February, he will be fresh and ready to go well. Nothing else makes any appeal, and so we will stick with Ilabon.
