held up, headway approaching 6th, led after 4 out, soon headed, weakened 2 out
chased leader to 3rd, slow jump 5th, soon tailed off
prominent until weakened approaching 7th
held up, headway 7th, slightly outpaced 3 out, rallied last, ran on to lead close home
held up and keen, headway after 5th, led 3 out, ridden last, hanging left and headed close home
held up and behind, headway 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
hampered and unseated rider 2nd
led until carried out approaching 6th
always towards rear, tailed off
behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch and not fluent, weakened 7th, soon tailed off
held up, headway after 7th, ridden 3 out, soon one pace
prominent, chased leader from 3rd until left in lead 6th, stumbled 4 out and soon headed, weakened before 2 out
always prominent, challenging when hung left 3 out, every chance last, weakened run-in
Those with experience make limited appeal so this may be best left to the hurdling debutantes with preference for Predicament, who gets the vote over Ironman Muldoon and Cruising Clyde. The selection showed signs of ability in three starts on the flat in France and has since joined the stable of Jonjo O'Neill. Sure to have been well schooled, the son of Machiavellian is taken to make a winning debut in Britain. Ironman Muldoon makes a belated debut under rules but has to be respected representing the in-form stable of Mark Pitman, as does Wincanton bumper winner Cruising Clyde. Given the form of runners from the stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies, the likelihood is that Randolph O'Brien will be fit enough to do himself justice, while Martin Pipe's Piccini is probably better than he has shown so far. The ex-Irish Lord On The Run showed enough over course and distance on his most recent start to suggest that he could be competitive in a race of this nature, while Toomebridge showed promise on his hurdling debut at Hereford in April and is another to consider. Predicament is an interesting recruit to the novice hurdling ranks though and he gets the vote.
