chased leaders, mistake 5th, pushed along 7th, struggling from 9th, took poor 2nd post
held up, pecked 5th, left 2nd 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, lost 2nd post
took keen hold, led 2nd, narrow advantage when fell 8th
jumped right and deliberately at several fences, went 2nd 4th, left in lead 8th, ridden clear approaching 2 out
led to 2nd, chased leaders, reminder after 7th, disputing 3rd when badly hampered and unseated rider 8th
held up, mistake and unseated rider 4th
Circus Maximus looks worth supporting to come back to form here, with Ask Me What, Heartache and Polish Baron others to have a look at. The Ian Williams-trained gelding drops back to two miles and with that in mind will probably need this soft ground to make it more of a test of stamina. He jumps well and was a fast ground winner at Huntingdon in October before winning a two-and-a-half mile Leicester hurdle on soft in January. We have to forgive his latest effort back at Huntingdon as an off day, but he looks like representing a bit of value in a poor contest. Ask Me What loves some cut and would make a race of it judged on his hurdling form, with the receipt of 11lb from the selection. However, his one chase start ended at the first fence and he has a bit to prove. Heartache put in a decent effort when second to Rodber at Bangor last time on his chasing debut. The lightly raced Jurado gelding is should come on for that experience and may give the selection most to do, while Polish Baron also acts with cut and would have frame claims here, though he does have plenty to find with Heartache on a line through Rodber. The form selection then, is Circus Maximus.
