prominent, led 5th, mistake 6th and 7th, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
keen hold, flat leaders, led approaching last, driven out
held up and keen, headway 4 out, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened quickly
held up and keen, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance last, ran on
led to 5th, weakened when short of room after 3 out, pulled up before last
track leaders, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
mid division, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
behind, headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, weakened flat
Amberleigh House continues his build up to the Martell Cognac Grand National by running over hurdles. He will surely find this a tall order under topweight and over a trip too short, but at least he will be that bit fitter afterwards. Down at the bottom of the handicap, Hakim is worthy a glance. John Spearing's New Zealand-bred ran well at Cheltenham before blundering away a leading chance two out at Southwell when flying from off the pace. A strong pace will suit him, and he makes more appeal than Dollar Law who finished ahead of him at Cheltenham but reopposes on worse terms here. Wuxi Venture will be a popular choice as well, having threatened in the past to win a decent event. Indeed, he was only beaten a short-head by the useful Batswing at Doncaster in February 2001, and although principally a miler on the Flat, does not appear to have too much trouble staying this sort of trip over timber. A win is long overdue, and Venetia Wlliams's inmate is taken to put that right.
