behind and well out of touch, 3rd and no chance when blundered 2 out
prominent until mistake and lost place third, soon well in rear, tailed off
jumped well, made all, clear with runner-up from 3rd, drew clear approaching 2 out, eased flat
always well in rear, well tailed off when refused last
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, 4th but well out of touch when blundered 10th, stayed on to take poor 3rd flat, no chance
soon out-paced and out of touch, tailed off
unseated rider, close 4th when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
behind, lost touch from 8th, well tailed off
clear with winner from 4th, close enough after 3 out, ridden and no impression approaching 2 out
Owned by HM The Queen, First Love is likely to be a short price for this and, a winner on heavy, is clearly the one to beat, despite being disappointing behind the ill-fated Montalcino last time. Ins And Outs comes here on the back of a Huntingdon win and, take out the favourite, would have a good chance of defying a penalty. Outside the first two in the betting, Paul Nicholls' Saint Par, three times a winner over hurdles, jumped better last time than on his debut but did not run well enough to suggest he can win this, all things being equal. Parish Oak won over hurdles at Towcester but this represents a step up in level. Matt Holland's hurdling form is reasonable enough but he has been absent since May 2001 and this is his chasing debut. Of the others, Running Machine looks to have ability but is prone to jumping errors.
