led, ridden and headed 3 out, blundered next, kept on but no chance with winner
soon behind, tailed off from 7th
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out, jumped right from 2 out
This looks to be little more than a match between Chapeltown and Polar Red with the vote going to the latter. The selection has taken pretty well to fences with two wins in novice events at Chepstow to his name and ran up to his bets when a respectable third in a decent handicap at Aintree last week. Martin Pipe's gelding has the edge on experience over his main rival and he gets the vote over Chapeltown. Nicky Henderson's gelding, three times a winner over hurdles since joining present connections from Ireland, made a satisfactory start to his hurdling career when winning at Taunton at the beginning of the month. However, the French bred made mistakes that day and his jumping will undoubtedly be put to the test here. Neither Silver Dancer nor Whatashock make much appeal in a race that should go to Polar Red.
