jumped well, made all, left clear last, readily
tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden after next, switched right approaching last, 2 lengths down when fell last
held up in touch, hit 7th, ridden to challenge for 2nd approaching 3 out, 3rd and held when left 2nd last, no chance with winner
chased winner, hit 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened
never fluent, behind, headway into 4th approaching 6th, lost touch after 9th, pulled up before 3 out
The vote here goes to Perouse, with Nyrche seen as his biggest danger. A high-class hurdler, Perouse warmed up for this with a fair run behind Royal Shakespeare in the Elite Hurdle here 11 days ago. Already the winner of a beginners' chase, he looks set to play a leading part in this race. Nyrche has already scored over fences and then found the likes of Racing Demon and Chilling Place too good for him at Exeter last time. He too should go well. Worcester chase winner Tighe Caster fell at Market Rasen last time and, while he is fairly decent, we prefer Perouse, while, all things being equal, course and distance winner Berengario ought not to be good enough. Not so, though, with In Contrast, who was rated 150 at his best over hurdles in 2003, but he has yet to cut the mustard in two chasing runs. This returns us to the selection, which is Perouse.
Nyrche (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, took closer order 4th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened, 5th of 8, 33l behind Racing Demon (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (C) gs.
Perouse 8-1 (11-1) Led, ridden and quicken approaching 2 out, headed 2 out, no extra, 5th of 9, 9l behind Royal Shakespeare (11-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (A) gd.
Tighe Caster 6-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, pushed along after 9th, 6 lengths down in 2nd when fell 2 out in race won by Hoo La Baloo (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov chs (C) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Berengario (IRE) 125-1 (10-4) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 9, 23l behind Royal Shakespeare (11-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (A) gd.
In Contrast (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 5th and no chance when blundered last, 5th of 7, 39l behind Flying Spirit (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (C) gd in Oct.
