mid-division, not fluent and reminders 6th, mistake 9th, soon weakened
in touch, chased leader after 9th until approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, mistake 7th, headway approaching next, ridden and weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
held up, driven after 9th, soon beaten
prominent, chased leader approaching 7th until ridden and weakened after 9th
held up, niggled along after 9th, ridden and headway after 3 out, led last, driven out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, went second approaching 2 out until approaching last, weakened flat
held up, headway approaching 7th, pecked slightly 2 out, kept on after last, went second close home
chased leader 3rd until 9th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
led to 1st, prominent, ridden 6th, weakened approaching 8th
Willie John Daly gets the vote over Isard III, Foly Pleasant and Wintertide in the opening event on the card. Willie John Daly deserves to win a decent race judged on his efforts so far this season, and providing that he jumps better than at Aintree a fortnight ago, looks the one to be on here. His second to Hirvine at Kempton in February was a great effort when you consider that he lost two shoes during the race. A subsequent third to Joly Bey also reads well, and having then made all at Taunton, he was going as well as anything when a sixth-flight faller at Aintree. All that suggests that he has the ability to bounce back, with Isard III likely to provide the main danger. Martin Pipe's gelding beat Fork Lightning over hurdles at Ascot just over a year ago and has not seen a great deal of action since then. He will line up fresh from a break after chasing home Buckby Lane here in December and is one to follow over the next few weeks. Foly Pleasant normally goes very well round here but blundered his way to defeat in the Coral Cup and will have to improve a bit, while Wintertide is not badly weighted and should battle for one of the places. For the winner though we return to Willie John Daly.
