mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden after 9th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 9th, led approaching last, idle flat, ridden out
in touch, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 7th, ridden after 9th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, switched right approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
held up, ridden after 9th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, not reach leaders
prominent, led 9th, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on
refused to race and took no part
mid-division, ridden 9th, kept on one pace
mistake 1st, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
in touch, ridden to chase leader approaching 3 out to approaching next, weakened last
led to 9th, soon weakened
A valuable contest with some classy performers involved including Exit Swinger, Mr Ed, Bow Strada, Gumley Gale and Jack Dawson to name but a few with the nod going to the last named. As good on the level as over hurdles Jack Dawson carries top weight and deserves to be as he¿s rated in the 70¿s on the flat and has also contested in some top class hurdle races with credit. He won a valuable hurdle race at Kelso last month and proved his well being with a win on the flat shortly afterwards. A versatile horse who always tries his best and will sure to be fighting it out to the line. Exit Swinger is more recognized as a chaser but is fairly weighted on his chase form and Paul Nicholls will have this race mapped out for some time so deserves respect. Mr Ed improved considerably last season and is still relatively lightly raced therefore could still be unexposed. He ran well to finish second on the flat last week at Sandown and with the Champ on board will be knocking on the door. Bow Strada has not won for a little while now and although is more than capable of finishing in the first three the Hobbs stable are not firing on all cylinders at present. Gumley Gale on the other hand could still be improving at the age of nine and his two recent Exeter wins proves that, but this is a big step up in grade and placed prize money is the most he can hope for. However this is a good contest with more than half a dozen possibilities but the in form Jack Dawson gets the vote.
