raced wide close up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, jumped right last
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leader, not fluent 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on
led, 4 lengths clear 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on
always in rear, outpaced and soon behind from 3 out, tailed off
American Tom won a chase and a hurdle in Ireland for Willie Mullins but hasn’t raced since May last year and is almost certainly flattered by an official rating of 134 nowadays. CLAYTON has gone close the last twice in much better races than this and he likes to race up with the pace, which is usually an advantage around here. Given he gets 4lb from course and distance winners Cliffside Park and Generous Jack and Sean Houlihan takes off a further 7lb so Gary Moore’s charge looks the one to beat.
Cliffside Park (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 2nd, closed 7th, slowed into 3 out, no extra before not fluent last, 6th of 9, 22 1/4l behind Vancouver (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f (5) gd in Feb.
Generous Jack (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Always prominent, led 2 out, ridden and pressed from last, held on well, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (5) gs in Feb beating Queen Adelaide (11-0) by nk, 7 ran.
Clayton 9-4jfav (11-11) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, challenged next, headed before last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Potters Midnight (11-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
American Tom (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and went 3rd before last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 18 3/4l behind Good Thyne Tara (11-3) at Ballinrobe 2m gd in May.
Velvet Voice 200-1 (10-12) Held up, rider dropped rein approaching 5th and pulled up, at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in Mar.
