held up towards rear, headway 5th, led 3 out, weakened quickly approaching 2 out
tracked leaders throughout, ridden and slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear
led, ridden and headed 5th, stayed handy until weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
held up rear and keen, headway 6th, disputed lead 7th, ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leader and keen, led 5th, ridden after 7th, headed and weakened 3 out
in touch, until lost place after 6th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
Asador can take the claimer, with Dubai Seven Stars, Circus Maximus, Monsieur Tagel and Linus the others to consider. The selection looked like being useful over fences at one time but appears to have had his problems. However, he was still leading when falling at the last at Hereford last time in a similar event to today's and a repeat of that effort - without the fall of course - puts him firmly on the shortlist. Dubai Seven Stars won a Taunton seller the time before last, after which she was bought back for over 8,000 guineas. She is fully entitled to be competitive again in this event. Circus Maximus has not run over hurdles for more than a year and won a three-runner chase on his last outing. A return to the level of his Irish form would give him a chance but he's not one to place complete faith in. Monsieur Tagel's last twin over hurdles came more than three years ago but has run well enough of late outside of this level to warrant consideration today. Linus won a Newton Abbot seller in September so comes into the reckoning on that basis. Grand Prompt, Jaccout and Ludere have a bit to find here if official ratings mean anything while Woodlands Lass has little in the way of form to recommend her. Overall, though, we'll go for Asador to make amends for that expensive Hereford fall.
