tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed and hit last, one-paced
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance approaching last, no extra flat
chased leaders, in 4th and one-paced when blundered badly last
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, hit next, soon weakened
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway after 4 out, ridden and slightly hampered 2 out, led last, driven out
prominent and radced keen, weakened when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division and raced keen, behind approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch, ridden and weakened when hit 3 out
mid-division, driven along approaching 5th, behind from approaching 3 out
An interesting contest with a number of unexposed types in opposition including Intersky Native. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding has been absent since running below expectations in a bumper at Perth in April but had previously shown a fair level of form when runner-up at Bangor last December and looks sure to go well on his hurdling bow. Encore Cadoudal will be sharper for his recent return and is respected but Fair Prospect and Real Shady both disappointed on their reappearance and now have something to prove so the TEAMtalk pick is Argento. The son of Weldnaas has taken well to timber with back to back wins at Hexham and Sedgefield last month and was far from disgraced when narrowly denied a hat-trick at the latter course on his most recent outing. The five-year-old has proven experience and sets a useful standard so should be hard to beat despite a double penalty.
