held up, not fluent 1st, headway on inside approaching last, kept on flat
in touch, quickened to lead when dived left at last, headed, rider nearly unseated and lost iron, lost all chance
led at very slow pace, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
held up, mistake 2nd, headway approaching last, left in lead just after last, ridden and headed final 50 yards
tracked leader until 5th, remained close up, challenged on stands rail last, ran on to lead final 50 yards
held up and took keen hold, headway approaching 3rd, went 2nd and mistake 5th, hit 2 out, soon weakened
pulled hard, prominent, went 2nd 2 out until approaching last, held when hampered and not clear run after last
held up in rear, ridden and quickly outpaced after 2 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Mister Mustard has looked a reformed character of late having won his last three starts but this looks tougher and the Ian Williams-trained gelding may struggle to make it four in a row so preference is for Cherub, who gets the vote ahead of Chockdee. The selection hails from the stable of Jonjo O'Neill that has been struggling for some time now and the son of Winged Love looked somewhat short of his best when down the field in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last month but the five-year-old should come on a bundle for that and may have too much class for his rivals. Jair Ohmsford has shown progressive form over hurdles of late and lost no caste in defeat when given a disappointing ride back on the flat at Newcastle on Saturday. Willie Musson's gelding makes a quick return to hurdling now and has to be respected along with Jack's Lad, who holds claims on the evidence of his last time out defeat of Mister Mustard. Easter Present has proven to be expensive to follow and of more interest may be the Paul Nicholls-trained Chockdee, who may appreciate the return to novice-company having been campaigned in handicaps of late. Cherub has a touch of class about him though and it is to be hoped that Jonjo O'Neill's gelding is spot on today.
Cherub (GER) 33-1 In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 14th of 20, 41l behind Arcalis at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Chockdee (FR) 40-1 Mid-division, hard ridden and no impression 2 out, 13th of 19, 27l behind Medison at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Mar.
Jack's Lad (IRE) 25-1 Raced wide in touch, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, jumped right last, edged left and led flat, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m nh mdn hdl (E) gs in Feb beating Mister Mustard by a nk, 13 ran.
Mister Mustard (IRE) Evensfav Held up rear, mistake 1st and 5th, headway 6th, hampered and left 2nd 4 out, ridden to dispute lead last, left clear, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Mar beating Monster Mick by 23l, 5 ran.
Enhancer 8-1 In touch until ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 15, 22l behind Arctic Blue at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Mar.
Simon The Poacher 50-1 In rear, headway 3rd, chased leaders after next, blundered 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Belcaro at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (E) gs in Apr '04.
Tudor Buck (IRE) 80-1 Slowly into stride, jumped badly left 1st and unseated rider in race won by Nycteos at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) sft in Mar, 14 ran.
Simiola 50-1 Led, pushed along and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Saafend Rocket at Hereford 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs in Dec '03, 14 ran.
Jair Ohmsford (IRE) 15-2 Held up, hit 7th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on well flat, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Kilgowan at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (B) gd in Mar.
Easter Present (IRE) 11-4fav Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, one pace last, 2nd of 17, 7l behind Rash Moment at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gf in Mar.
Edgar Wilde (IRE) 10-1 Never better than finishing position, 10th of 16, 27l behind River Phantom at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (D) gs.
Notanotherdonkey (IRE) 50-1 Mid-division, headway after 5th, lost place and mistake 2 out, no danger after, 5th of 10, 18l behind Chilling Place at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (B) gd in Dec.
