always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led until headed and hit 3 out, weakened next
keen, held up in touch, reminders after 4th, weakened on bend before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up, headway on bit to lead 3 out, clear next, very easily
held up and keen, headway 4th, pushed along and lost place on bend before 3 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, lost place after 4th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Four Melons deserves to get his head in front and is taken to open his account at the main expense of Native Coral and Dalkeys Lad. The selection made and encouraging debut when finding just Blairgowrie half-a-length too good at Hexham on his hurdling debut in November and subsequently lost no caste in defeat behind Minster Shadow at Sedgefield. A reproduction of either of those two efforts should suffice here. Native Coral, weakening when a faller in an Irish hunter chase, when last seen in May is an interesting runner from the stable of Nicky Richards and has to be respected. He makes more appeal than Dalkeys Lad, who has shown signs of ability but needs to improve to trouble the selection. The remainder look a distinctly moderate bunch and it will be a surprise if any of them can trouble Four Melons who should be too classy.
