chased leaders to 6th
made virtually all, clear 2 out, comfortably
held up and keen, blundered 4th, effort and jumped right 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up and pulled hard, headway 6th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out until weakened approaching last
chased winner from 1st until ridden approaching 2 out, weakened quickly
chased leaders, ridden 7th, not fluent and outpaced 3 out, kept on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner
not fluent and ran in snatches, prominent until weakened after 4th, soon well behind
chased leaders, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
This is a curiosity of a race, with Forzacurity taken to get the better of General Smith, Lysander and Predator. Much as the selection finished 12-and-a-half lengths behind General Smith at Worcester last time, he is now nine pounds better off and, having won at this venue, well, you never know...The value of Predator's and Lysander's best novice hurdle efforts makes them major players, but much as San Marco is now just a pound above his winning mark of July 2004, he has raced only once since, that being eleven days ago. Madam Caversfield is also a course winner, which came on her latest start, but a nine-pounds rise for that will make life tougher in terms of winning. The others, we feel, need to find some improvement if they are to score. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Forzacurity.
Predator (GER) 5-2 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed after 6th, 2nd and 2 lengths down when fell 3 out in race won by Political Intrigue (10-10) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Royal Stardust 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden in 5th when fell in race won by Moon Over Miami (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd, 14 ran.
General Smith 11-2 (10-8) Held up and keen, ridden and headway after 5th, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating Zumrah (11-5) by 7l, 7 ran.
Forzacurity 13-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed after 5th and weakened, 4th of 7, 13l behind General Smith (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Madam Caversfield 15-2 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 2 out, led flat, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf beating Boulevin (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Lord of Methley 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, mistake next, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 6th of 7, 17l behind General Smith (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Lysander (GER) 6-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway 8th, close 4th when slipped up 3 out in race won by Stagecoach Diamond (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf, 10 ran.
Sound Skin (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden, every chance approaching 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 16, 11l behind Mickey Pearce (11-2) at Towcester 2m 5f nov sll hdl (5) sft.
