held up in touch, headway after 2 out, mistake last, weakened
held up in touch, headway 2 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on
led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
chased leaders to 2 out, weakened
held up in touch, headway approaching 2 out, led last, kept on well
led to 2nd, stayed prominent until weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway approaching 2 out, every chance approaching last, no extra flat
Nicky Henderson has had three winners from 10 runners here this season for a 30 per cent strike-rate. So, whatever he saddled was going to be worth a second look, and we thought that it might be Cappadrummin. However, the Lambourn maestro has obviously weighed up the opposition and decided that he can save that talented individual for another day. Instead he wheels out Petanque, who returned from a year's absence between landing his Huntingdon bumper and making a pleasing return when fifth at Doncaster in January. He quickly improved to score on his hurdles bow on a return to Town Moor later that month and should follow up. With Mick Fitzgerald in the saddle, Marcus Foley rides the stable's second string River Pirate who is going the right way, but a bigger danger is likely to be Reel Dancer, a beaten favourite on his introduction to timber at Folkestone, when bogged down in the testing conditions. He looked a picture in the paddock beforehand, and the faster ground should see him improve. However it will not be enough to trouble Petanque.
