with leaders, led 7th to after 9th,weakened quickly after 3 out
in rear, ridden along from 9th, headway from 4 out, chased winner after 3 out, not fluent last, rallied under pressure run-in, always just held
always behind, tailed off 3 out
always in rear, tailed off when fell 4 out
held up towards rear, struggling before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
pulled hard, made most to 7th, weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in mid-division, mistake 5th, hit 9th, weakened 3 out, no chance when jumped right last
took keen hold, prominent until weakened approaching 3 out
close up until ridden and outpaced by leading trio after 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd 2 out, no chance with leading pair
took keen hold, tracked leaders on inner, led after 9th, not fluent last, stayed on gamely under pressure when pressed run-in
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always in rear, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 2 out
An informative race in prospect here with Yardbird the marginal preference over the penalised Bison King and Petite Margot, who are both open to plenty of improvement and should not be too far away if they run up to form. Lough Dante is also worthy of a place on the shortlist of alternatives as this former point-to-point winner has shaped up very nicely in both his starts for Henry Daly and looks a winner waiting to happen on his current profile. However, the best may be seen of him when he is sent over fences and he is only one to monitor for us today. So too is Irish import Killer's Fury, who also looks destined for a chasing career and may be using this as a confidence booster after his early exit on his rules debut at Kempton earlier in the month. Therefore, we return to Yardbird, who has put together a string on consistent efforts of late and is worthy of a small investment now that he is upped to three miles for the first time. It seems almost redundant to point out that Henrietta Knight excels with her staying chasers but she looks to have primed Yardbird for his step up in trip. The son of Moonax is descended from the Nijinski line that is causing quite a few ripples in the National Hunt scene at present and the selection is taken to confirm the form with Bison King after holding him comfortably here last December.
