pressed leader, led and jumped right from 5th, ridden and joined last, edged right under pressure but stayed on gamely run in
mistakes, tracked clear leading pair, closed from 5th, going well enough 4 out, 3rd and looked beaten when fell heavily 3 out
always behind, mistake 1st and 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always in rear, tailed off when mistake 7th
led to 5th, stayed pressing winner, driven to challenge and upsides last, not quicken run in
in rear, driven after 3rd, soon well behind, tailed off
raced in 4th, jumped right 2nd and 3rd, slipped up on landing and unseated rider 4th
held up in 5th, mistake 2nd, outpaced from 5th, tailed off and struggliing 4 out, left poor 3rd 3 out
This opener looks to rest between Lord Gale and Keepthedreamalive and we will side with Lord Gale, who sets the standard, with Sninfia and Redspin others who will be fighting to make the frame. The selection is only lightly raced but has landed two of his five starts and finished runner-up on two other occasions, so he clearly possesses ability. Nigel Twiston-Davies is perhaps the form trainer of the moment in this sphere, and Lord Gale's win last time out, where he was heavily eased to score by five lengths at Worcester, marks him out as the one for us here. Not that Keepthedreamalive will be here to make up the numbers. Bob Buckler's grey also hit form with a vengeance after a break when hacking up at Plumpton last time. Being by Roselier he won't mind any of the forecast rain, and if there is a deluge then his chances would increase. Of the others, Sninfia's maiden hurdle win at Worcester last month marks her out as a frame contender and she should be better over this longer trip, though she does prefer faster ground, while Redspin would not welcome any rain either but is not a bad sort over timber and should still be thereabouts as the meet the hill. But with his yard bang in form we will stick with Lord Gale to take this on his way to better things.
