tracked leaders, not fluent early, closed up halfway, ridden 3 out, challenging when blundered last, hard ridden and stayed on well to lead post
tracked leader, ridden and weakened quickly 3 out
led, pushed along and hung left 3 out, mistake next, hard ridden flat, headed close home
held up, headway under pressure after 4 out, effort when mistake and stumbled 3 out, not pace of first two
tailed off from halfway
Just four runners contest the opener on day one of the Scottish National meeting, and with Darnley and Wonderful Man seemingly facing an uphill task, it's a safe bet to assume that Lirfox and Laouen will fight out the finish. The latter is unbeaten in both starts over hurdles and gave Cheltenham a miss as he is still a light framed sort. Absent since January, he has reportedly been working well for Len Lungo, whose yard was afflicted with a virus a few weeks ago but now appears to be ready to hit top form. However, it will be no easy task giving weight away to Lirfox who was thrown in at the deep end on her British debut when asked to line up in the Gerrard Wealth Management Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Martin Pipe's mare ran better than her finishing position of 11th indicates, making the running until tiring in the straight, and ran another super race in Aintree's Laurel Pub Company Top Novices' Hurdle when similar tactics were employed, staying on again for third behind Limerick Boy. The fact remains though that she was a soft ground horse in France and might find it too lively here. With that in mind, narrow preference is for Laouen.
