led and raced keen, driven between last two, headed and no extra final 50 yards
held up in rear, blundered 4 out, stayed on from next, not pace to challenge
prominent until ridden and lost place from 5th, stayed on again from 2 out, never dangerous
in touch, headway 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, driven and stayed on to lead final 50 yards
tracked leader, blundered 4 out, weakened after next
chased leader to 4 out, weakened quickly
held up and well in rear from 3 out, tailed off
in touch until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
prominent until ridden and lost place 6th, tailed off when blundered 2 out, soon pulled up
With both Inaki and Ma Barnicle racing from out of the weights proper, and the large majority of the field seemingly only moderate, this may not be as competitive a contest as it appears at first glance. It may pay to concentrate on the three at the top of the handicap, all of who are open to further improvement over fences. Topweight Ivanoph represents the in form yard of Paul Nicholls. The French-bred has yet to reproduce his best hurdles form over the larger obstacles and remains well treated as a result. However, the six-year-old has become expensive to follow and, until there are definite signs that his jumping has improved, he is probably bets watched. The Venetia Williams-trained Friedhelmo makes his debut over fences and seems on fair mark judged by his best hurdles form. The son of Dashing Blade has to be respected for his shrewd handler but the TEAMtalk vote goes to Charlie Mann's Flinders Chase. Far from disgraced behind Joyeaux Royal at Plumpton on his reappearance earlier this month, the son of Terimon is entitled to improve for the run and, with the benefit of chasing experience and the run behind him, the seven-year-old gets the nod.
