led, headed briefly 8th, ridden 4 out, hard ridden after last, ran on well under pressure flat
held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden 4 out, blundered 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, reminder after 10th, ridden and lost place 12th, soon tailed off
prominent, lost place 5th, headway 13th, short of room bend before 4 out, ridden and challenged approaching 2 out, every chance after last, ran on but not pace of winner
jumped slowly 1st, held up last, jumped right 4th, headway 5th, led briefly 8th, chased leaders and ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
pulled early, chased leaders, mistake 9th, fell 10th
One Nation showed his best form over fences so far when third to the useful Supreme Prince at Ascot last month and a reproduction of that should be good enough to see off his main rivals here Benbecula and Ruby Gale. The last mentioned is trained by Paul Nicholls and has to be respected as he was just about the best of these over hurdles but showed little aptitude for the larger obstacles in two starts over fences last term and is probably best watched. Benbecula has some respectable hurdles form to his name and the son of Glacial Storm may do better now that he is switched to fences. He is another to be respected, especially with the stable of Paul Webber in such good form. Whatashock is unexposed and is another to come from an in-form yard but needs to improve, as do both Our Kev and Yvanovitch, if they are to trouble the selection. One Nation was useful at his best over hurdles but looks to be better over fences if judged by his recent third at Ascot. A reproduction of that effort should suffice.
