towards rear, steady headway 4th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, weakened last
tracked leaders and keen, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
in touch, weakened 4th, lost in touch next, pulled up before 3 out
in touch and keen, led after 5th, clear 2 out, easy
keen in mid-division, behind from 1st, tailed off when mistake and unseated rider last
held up towards rear, headway 5th to go in touch, weakened next, jumped right 2 out
not jumped well in rear, weakened 5th
in touch and keen, not fluent 5th, driven to chase leaders 3 out, one pace when jumped left 2 out and last, took 2nd near finish
always in the rear
led and keen, jumped right throughout, headed when jumping badly right 5th, soon weakened and behind when pulled up before 2 out
Nonrunner
Of obvious interest here will be Forest Green, Creinch and French Saulaie and we will offer Forest Green as the selection. Paul Nicholls' team are hardly in rip roaring form but the newcomer did have some useful form in France and is from a good family that have yielded plenty of winners. Creinch finished second to Nice Horse a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately the winner has not upheld the form since. French Saulaie has to be respected from a yard that are having winners. Another French import, he is from a family that stay further so the market is dutifully watched on this occasion. She's Humble won a National Hunt Flat race at the track but was comprehensively outclassed in Aintree's Champion affair. Any overnight rain would not go amiss. Mayass has the edge of British hurdling experience. Second to The Mick Weston it is nevertheless worrying that there has been that long break. Ice Cream has failed to build on a near-miss in a Hereford bumper while Run Dani Run could be one who will be better for a step up in trip. Some fascinating debutants and the market should provide most clues but in its absence we turn to Forest Green.
Forest Green (FR) (10-3) Behind, headway 3 out, effort and led last, stayed on well, won at Enghien 2m 4yo hdl in Apr beating Supercilious (10-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
Blues Story (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, hit 3rd, weakened 6th, left poor 2nd 2 out, 3rd of 8, well behind Paro (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) frm in Apr.
French Saulaie (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 15, 4l behind Esprit Saint (10-3) at Pau 2m 1f hdl in Feb.
Mayyas 16-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 7th, chased winner 3 out, ridden when not fluent 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 10l behind The Mick Weston (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Ice Cream (FR) 80-1 (10-9) Mid-division, hit 3rd and 5th, soon behind, tailed off, 14th of 17, well behind Pirate Flagship (11-2) at Newbury 2m nh mdn hdl (D) gd in Nov.
Run Dani Run (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) In touch until weakened over 5f out, 8th of 15, 28l behind Cheer Us On (10-10) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gf in Apr.
She's Humble (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Chased leader, weakened 5f out, 19th of 22, well behind Rhacophorus (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f mrs lst nhf (1) gd in Apr.
Creinch 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd at the next, kept on but no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Nice Horse (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh mdn hdl (4) gf.
