held up towards rear, lost touch 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leader, led approaching 6th, clear 8th, ridden 3 out, headed last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, ridden 8th, weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led after 4th to 6th, stayed on one pace from 3 out
chased leaders, lost touch 5th, soon tailed off
prominent, ridden 7th, pulled up lame before 3 out
held up last, ridden 7th, soon behind
chased leaders, ridden and chased clear leader after 8th, led last, driven out
led approaching 2nd, headed after 4th, weakened 7th
held up in mid-division, ridden after 8th, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd after last
mid-division, chased leaders 6th, weakened 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
led to approaching 2nd, chased leaders until weakened 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Canny Scot got off the mark in good style earlier this month, and is fancied to follow up in this weak looking finale; Keep Smiling is an interesting type on his first start for Venetia Williams, while top weight Barnards Green is another to consider on his handicap debut. The latter had been running in good company in novice hurdles, beaten behind the likes of Cornish Gale and Widemouth Bay, and although he has been beaten a long way, he could be an interesting prospect in this modest handicap, so any market support could be worth noting. Keep Smiling was held in some regard by Henrietta Knight and won a good novice chase at Bangor last year. However, he failed to complete on his next three starts and has now moved to Venetia Williams. He is potentially very well treated back over hurdles and cannot be entirely ruled out. Excellent Vibes has been disappointing lately and is probably best watched, while Foxmeade Dancer was all out to win a poor seller at Folkestone last time and is readily opposed. So we just prefer Canny Scot, who had Felix well behind when a cosy winner over this trip at Newton Abbot last time, and looks more than capable of landing the double here despite a rise in the weights.
