held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 4 out, ridden 2 out, clear when mistake last, driven out flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and effort next, chased winner 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace after
headway 5th, ridden and effort 3 out, one pace from next
headway 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
led, headed approaching 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, outpaced after 4 out
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 5th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
pulled hard in rear, tailed off after 4 out
The former French-trained Isio, now with Nicky Henderson has shown progressive form over hurdles this season with wins at Ludlow and Newbury sandwiched either side of a respectable second to Hitman at Kempton. A reproduction of any of those efforts should be enough in this company. Khan Kicker showed that he handles faster ground well enough when winning at Kelso last time, while the Martin Pipe-trained Maragun, who will relish the conditions, is entitled to improve for his recent run at Aintree which was his first since November, are others to consider.
