held up in touch, chased winner 4 out, ridden and effort 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led 9th, driven clear approaching last, ridden and ran on flat
led, headed 7th, weakening when mistake 10th, tailed off from 2 out
held up in rear, headway 9th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next
raced keenly, tracked leader, led 7th, mistake and headed 9th, weakened 2 out, left remote 4th last
mistakes and behind, lost touch 8th, headway under pressure 4 out, 4th and no impression when fell heavily last
We like the look of course specialist Mighty Fine here, with the biggest dangers reckoned to be Bob's Buster and Silk Trader. Silk Trader is well weighted on the best of his hurdling form and showed enough in novice chases last season to suggest he can go well if fully wound up for his seasonal return. All four of Mighty Fine's lifetime wins have come here and, despite the fact that he is eight pounds above a previous best winning mark, his rider takes off a useful seven of those and he comes here fit and in good heart following a couple of runs. Didifon is four pounds above the mark from which he won over course and distance last November, so is afforded respect but he has not run since that race which, for us, counts against him. Bob's Buster has also won over today's course and distance and, having had a seasonal pipe-opener and being only one pound above the mark from which he won at Kelso in January, he looks set to go well. Gamma Delta looked promising back in 2002 but has a 918-day absence to overcome and Red Lion will be doing well to score on his chasing debut. Once again, then, this spins us back to the selection, which is Mighty Fine.
