led, blundered 6th, mistake 8th, headed and weakened before last, finished tired
tracked leader, ridden and lost place after 8th and reminders, kept on to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up 4th, weakened before 7th, tailed off,
held up last, mistake 3rd, well behind afterwards, tailed off
prominent, chased leader after 8th, led before last, ridden clear on flat
always behind, tailed off from 7th
held up in touch, weakened 8th, tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden and weakend after 7th, soon well behind
always struggling in rear and pulled up before 5th
On a three-timer, Martin Pipe's Tactful Remark will be all the rage here, despite his big weight of 12st 2lbs. Unextended in winning two novice events, he is hard to fully assess and could well win but is maybe worth taking on with Mark Pitman's course and distance (and going) winner, Be My Destiny. He looked progressive when winning on that occasion, his overall level of form reads well in the context of this race and he gets the vote. Incidentally, February 11 is also his birthday! Breathtaking View is a three-time winner in Dubai (at 10/12f on good and fast going). El Hamra won on the Flat over 8f on standard going but was modest overall in that sphere. German raider Halle Bopp showed promise behind Do l'Enfant d'Eau on his British debut and commands respect. Mandoob won twice on the all-weather over 12f in November and has shown a modicum of promise over hurdles (no chance on seasonal return behind Rooster Booster). Six Of One won over 12f on the Flat in France and ands further intrigue to the race. Trusting Paddy showed some promise on his last run but is overlooked on his hurdling debut. Viva Bingo showed promise when placed in Irish bumpers but has failed to build on that over hurdles in Britain.
