held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
mostly chased winner, ridden approaching last, one pace flat
held up in rear, headway on outside after 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, ridden after 2 out, weakened last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
jumped right 1st in touch and took keen hold, weakened approaching 3 out
made all, hit 3 out, jumped right 2 out and last, came to stand side, driven out
held up, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, close up from 2 out, weakened flat
held up, steady headway going well from 3 out, switched left approaching last, edged left and chased winner flat, soon challenging, not quicken near finish
held up in touch, ridden after 5th, behind from next
Valance is still unexposed over hurdles and despite a 7lb rise for his latest second at Cheltenham is taken to go one better at the main expense of Candarli and Dom d'Orgeval. The selection is a useful staying handicapper on the flat and was, not surprisingly, doing his best work late on at Cheltenham on his return to the winter game last month. That was only the third time that Charlie Egerton's gelding has tackled timber and with further improvement anticipated he is taken to resume winning ways. Top weight Dream With Me makes his debut for Jonathan Geake having formerly been trained by Martin Pipe. The handicapper has given the seven-year-old a chance on his old form but it is difficult to know how much ability he retains having been off for 386 days. Similar comments apply to David Elsworth's Island Sound and of more interest may be Candarli. David Gandolfo's gelding found just Zonergem too good on his return at Ludlow last month and has to be respected along with the novice Migwell, who filled the same position behind Direct Flight on his recent return at Fakenham. Dom d'Orgeval has been well placed to win his last three starts but is likely to find this tougher, while Alchemystic does not appear to be particularly well treated. Valance is unexposed though and is given the vote to go one better than at Cheltenham.
