made all, clear after 4 out unchallenged
chased leaders, outpaced and behind when fell 7th, remounted
tracked winner, pushed along after 4 out, soon no chance
Yes Sir can give weight and a beating to Alikat and Flintoff in a race that should just concern that trio. The other two runners appear to have a mountain to climb to get involved, and on the evidence so far, Yes Sir is the one to beat. Peter Bowen's six-year-old gets on well with Tony McCoy, the champion having been on board for two of his four career victories, including at Sandown the time before last. That win was over a field that included no less than seven Pipe runners, and stamped Yes Sir as a progressive sort. He showed as much when humping topweight into third next time at Uttoxeter where Alikat was back in fourth. The latter now reopposes on much worse terms in this intermediate hurdle and will have to produce his best effort to turn the tables. Flintoff has been brought along steadily and made a winning debut over hurdles at Towcester last time, but that bare form leaves him with plenty to do also, and basically Yes Sir looks to have everything going for him here but will no doubt be backed accordingly. However, with the form in the book, and step up in trip to help, he is impossible to oppose.
Yes Sir (IRE) 11-2 (11-13) Mid-division, headway 7th, hit 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied 2 out, stayed on, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Nonantais (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) sft in Apr.
Comeonourfella (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) 11th of 14, more than 13l behind Diamond Forever (10-13) at Downpatrick 2m 7f beg chs gs.
Alikat (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 18, 13l behind Nonantais (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) sft in Apr.
Flintoff (USA) 5-1 (10-11) Held up and keen, headway approaching 3 out, led after next, clear last, pushed out, won at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gf beating Auntie Kathleen (10-9) by 10l, 9 ran.
Tandawizi 100-1 (10-12) Prominent, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened next, 9th of 13, well behind Marsh Run (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (D) sft in Feb.
