held up towards rear, headway 4th, hit 6th, weakened 3 out
in touch, challenged 3 out, no extra when lost 2nd towards finish
held up, outpaced 4 out, stayed on well to take 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, led approaching 7th, stayed on well from last
in rear, weakened 7th, mistake next
held up, chased leaders approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up in touch and keen, weakened 4 out
led, headed approaching 7th, weakened approaching 4 out
close up, weakened from 7th
Herecomesthetruth was a very impressive winner of a Wincanton novice hurdle on his last start, galloping his rivals into submission and with similar tactics likely to be applied here, he is very hard to oppose. Whatever the selection does over hurdles is a bonus because he is every inch a chaser where similarities exist between himself and Denman at this stage. The burden of 11-12 should not anchor him given his physique and everything points in his direction. Never So Blue appears here having failed to fulfil an engagement earlier in the week. He is on a retrieving mission having capsized on his last two outings over fences. Stamina is unlikely to be an issue but the question remains whether he has the ability to pass a relentless galloper like the selection. Mouftari is not the most straight forward and it seems Davy Russell holds the key to him but with him sidelined Niall Madden takes the ride. If he put his best foot forward he would be one for the minor honours but does not appeal against lesser exposed sorts. Quws Law is held in high regard by his connections but has been disappointing while Pauline Robson executed what arguably was the training performance of the season to produce Paddy The Piper fit and well to land a gamble over the course last time. He has more on his plate here. Herecomethetruth is a horse of huge potential and is a confident selection.
Paddy The Piper (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 4 out, clear from 3 out, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Mar beating Aberdare (9-12) by 12l, 7 ran.
Herecomesthetruth (IRE) 5-6fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 5th, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Tamadot (11-7) by 4l, 6 ran.
Rathowen (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Flying Falcon (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Quws Law (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) In rear, headway after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Kempski (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar, 9 ran.
Mouftari (USA) 6-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway into moderate 9th approaching straight, ridden to close and challenged in close 2nd when not fluent last, stayed on run-in to lead on line, won at Limerick 3m hcp chs 0-130 hvy in Mar beating Giolla An Bhaird (10-7).
Never So Blue (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders until lost place 10th, ridden and headway 12th, challenging when fell 3 out in race won by Even More (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Young Albert (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway out, chased winner before next, soon beaten, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Fresh Winter (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Mar.
Our Joycey 14-1 (9-10) In touch, pushed along and lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Khasab (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Em's Royalty 9-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 8th, ridden approaching next, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Boris The Blade (11-7) at Ayr 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Mar.
