held up, headway under pressure approaching 9th, chased winner before 3 out, brief effort and driven before next, tired when hit last
outpaced and well in rear, plodded on from 3 out
always rear, struggling 8th, soon tailed off
pulled hard, settled in 4th, weakened before 3 out
held up, 6th and no chance when blundered 9th
chased leaders to 3rd, weakened before 8th, soon tailed off
tracked winner until ridden and hit 7th, went 2nd again next until approaching 3 out, soon weakened
made all, clear 9th, driven before 2 out, in command between last 2, eased flat
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th to next, weakened under pressure before 3 out
mid-division, weakened quickly from 9th, pulled up after 3 out
in touch, lost touch 8th, soon tailed off
A very tricky handicap hurdle and the top-weight Coustou looks set to run a good race, however we will side with Zeloso, with Saucy Night also expected to put in a bold showing. Milton Harris's charge returned to jumping after a two year break and ran with real credit behind Tushna in a decent race at Stratford. The third has since run with well in a much better race and so the form looks quite solid. Coustou looked in need of his recent outing at Newbury and comes into the arguement on the pick of last season's form. Saucy Night won off a mark of 85 over fences in February and has a much lower rating over hurdles. However he put in a solid display at Wincanton recently and it will be hard to keep this consistent performer out of the frame. The pick of the others could be Mariday, but in very open affair Zeloso is open to plent of improvement and gets our vote.
Coustou (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, good headway on bit approaching 2 out, soon ridden, challenged and led last, headed close home, no extra, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Esters Boy (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gd in Apr.
Mrs Pickles 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 7l behind Tensile (11-7) at Towcester 2m 3f sll hdl (G) gs in Mar.
Geography (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Last and never going well, driven and struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Altitude Dancer (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Otahuna 9-2 (11-2) Held up, headway 7th, weakened 5 out, 6th of 7, well behind Hisar (10-0) at Chepstow 2m cnd hcp chs (F) sft in Mar.
Zeloso 16-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden and kept on one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Tushna (10-7) at Stratford 2m ldy hcp hdl (F) gd.
Manque Neuf 7-2 (10-3) In touch, bumped badly 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 5th of 11, 11l behind Spirit Of Tenby (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gf in May.
Saucy Night Evensfav (10-0) Chased leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, switched left approaching last, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Habitual (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (F) frm.
Mariday 20-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, chased winner 6th to after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Madison de Vonnas (11-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd.
