held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, one pace approaching next
tracked winner, outpaced from 6th, ridden and ran on flat, not reach winner
in touch, chased winner from 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened flat
made all, clear from 5th, quickened approaching next, driven approaching 2 out, kept on well flat
in touch, outpaced after 4th, 5th and beaten when fell 6th
took keen hold, tracked leaders 3rd, ridden and lost place 5th, tailed off from next
held up and behind, reminders 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
A decidedly moderate affair centres around the Martin Pipe trio with Nouveau Cheval, the chosen mount of Tony McCoy, the one to beat. The seven-year-old has been well placed to rattle up three wins in similar company last term and should have the measure of his rivals on these terms with ground conditions unlikely to be a problem. Iorana has been disappointing of late and Potentate has something to find so the main danger could come from Miracle Island who was twice successful over hurdles last term and was also a recent winner on the level at Doncaster's Lincoln meeting.