disputed lead, led 10th, ridden and headed 4 out, rallied to lead 2 out, stayed on strongly
held up in touch, headway 13th, led 4 out, headed 2 out, one pace under pressure
held up towards rear, headway 5 out to track leaders, ridden next, no extra 3 out
disputed lead to 10th, pushed along and dropped rear 5 out, soon weakened, behind when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
held up in rear, headway and effort approaching 3 out, one pace next
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon one pace
Claude Greengrass is the one to beat here, with recent first-fence faller Family Venture and Salvage expected to give him most to do. Claude Greengrass was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his British debut at Catterick in January but was beaten in a photo. Jonjo O'Neill's charge quickly made amends though at Doncaster, and has paid to follow since, scoring with a bit in hand on his return to the fray at Carlisle a fortnight ago. He should really have another victory over hurdles to his credit as he was well clear at Wetherby in February when falling at the last. The seven-year-old should have too much class for his rivals here and this exciting recruit to fences is a confident selection. Family Venture makes a quick reappearance after his costly first-fence fall at Fakenham three days ago. That was surely just a lapse after his sterling effort on his chase debut at Sedgefield. He has been well schooled over the bigger obstacles and rates the major danger to Claude Greengrass. Salvage does not have the class of the first two mentioned, but was good enough to take a moderate contest at Kelso recently. Any lapses by the two main protagonists would let him in, but in the belief that Jonjo O'Neill has schooled him adequately, Claude Greengrass is taken to make an immediate impact over fences.
