soon with leader, not fluent 5th, led 8th, mistake 3 out, clear last, ridden out
led, mistake 7th, headed next, ridden approaching 4 out, beaten when blundered last
mistakes, pulled hard in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
well behind from 5th, tailed off when blundered 7th
jumped left, in touch, lost place 3rd, ridden and headway, left 4th 3 out, kept on never troubled leaders
took keen hold, always behind
held up, headway to go 3rd approaching 6th, ridden after 9th, weakened after 3 out, 4th and no chance when fell last
Easily the best of these over hurdles, Dempsey is taken to have learned from his previous experience of chasing and get the better of Indien Royal and Zibeline. The selection was useful as a bumper horse two seasons ago and showed progressive form in novice hurdles last term before being switched to the larger obstacles this season. A faller early on his chasing debut, Mark Pitman's gelding was subsequently pulled up on his next start but showed something like his old form when chasing home Limerick Boy at Leicester last time. A reproduction of that effort should suffice today. Zibeline was useful over hurdles but gave little sign for encouragement on his chasing debut at Sedgefield last month and may not be a natural at this game. Henry Daly has his string in good form now so Saafend Rocket has to be respected but he needs to step up considerably on previous form to trouble the selection. Tin Symphony has shown only a modicum of ability so far and a bigger danger is likely to come from the Paul Nicholls-trained Indien Royal. The French import has found one too good in each of his two starts over fences this term and is sure to win races on the evidence of what he has shown, especially under conditions similar to today's. However, Dempsey is a classy individual and is taken to show that class here.
