held up, headway approaching 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon one pace
led, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
prominent, ridden to lead 4 out, headed last, not quicken
held up, headway 6th, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, rallying when jumped right and blundered 2 out, kept on
prominent to 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway 14th, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, rallying when switched and carried right 2 out, kept on flat
tracked leaders, pushed along from 9th, soon weakened
left in lead 2nd, jumped right from 6th, blundered and headed 4 out, rallied to lead last, driven out
This is a race that it will pay to take mental notes on as there are plenty of similar openings coming up in the calendar where experience of such events will be a vital ingredient. However, Hurricane Bay may be the safest option today and the Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding gets the nod over Compton Chick and Alvaro - with the improving Mrs Trude one to watch out for in the betting as an each way steal. Sam Rockett was a frustrating horse to predict over hurdles and his tendency to drop himself out will leave him vulnerable if his fencing is not up to scratch today. So the experience of Hurricane Bay, who won a better race than this in convincing style at Wetherby in May, is taken to be the decisive factor in the outcome here.
