beaten 2nd, held up in touch, headway 4 out, challenged next, stayed on to lead 2 out, mistake last, ridden and kept on flat
mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden, effort approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up behind, smooth headway for 4 out, challenged 2 out, every chance when mistake last, kept on flat
led 2 after 5th, chased leaders, lost place 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on well to lead last, edged left flat, kept on well
held up in touch, mid-division 3 out, chance next, weakened approaching last
mid-division when pulled up before 5th
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened approaching last
chased leaders until lost place 5th, behind from 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 4th, soon behind
mid-division, lost place 5th, tailed off from 4 out
chased leaders, steady headway to dispute lead 4 out, every chance next, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, led after 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders to three out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 7th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden at every chance next, weakened approaching last
held up and always behind
Plenty of runners to choose from but East Tycoon stands out and gets the vote to make a winning return with Hand Inn Hand and Crystal d'Ainay rated the main dangers. The last mentioned remains relatively unexposed and ran well when second in a Grade 2 event here on his final start of last season but Alan King's gelding faces a stiff task giving weight away all round. Hand Inn Hand was progressive over fences last term and could be interesting back over hurdles of what looks a favourable mark. Mindanao is a consistent performer and entitled to be thereabouts again, while Another Dude has to be respected, especially given the form of Howard Johnson's stable. Undeniable looked unlucky on his latest start, when clear when falling and is another worthy of a mention along with Mary Reveley's pair Loop The Loup and Colourful Life, who are both exposed but often run well in decent handicaps. However, East Tycoon looked a horse to follow when making a winning hurdling debut at Doncaster last term and confirmed that belief with a fluent success at Stratford when last seen. Still unexposed and apparently well treated, East Tycoon has ground conditions to suit and gets the vote to begin making up for lost time.
