mistakes, held up, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, one pace from next
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, ridden after 4th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
pulled hard, led to 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
keen, in touch, headway 4th, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, led again last, headed and not quicken flat
keen, led 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened quickly
held up, headway 4th, ridden to challenge when mistake 2 out, led flat, driven out
A close eye should be kept on the betting market in respect of any confidence behind Sign Of Nike, but as the German raider is another who is seeing a hurdle for the first time in public he may be best watched today. A safer option therefore could be Thumper, who comes here fit from a light campaign on the Flat. Bearaway is another who has taken well to the jumping game and should not be too far away at the finish. But he may be better over further and will find it hard to follow up his course and distance success as he is set to concede 7lbs away to the selection on the terms of the race. Jayed is another course and distance winner who will hard to keep out of the frame, whereas Alva Glen is already in danger of becoming disappointing and is not one to trust implicitly. Therefore a small stakes investment in Thumper may be the best bet before assessing each way alternatives for a bit of fun with forecast combinations.
