soon tracking leader, lead 6th, hung right bend after 9th and headed, weakened approaching 13th, pulled up before next
held up in rear, stumbled badly 2nd, headway 10th, chased winner after 4 out, ridden approaching next weakened 2 out
led to 6th, led again after 9th, clear after 3 out, easily
tracked leader and keen, weakened 11th, pulled up before 13th
An interesting affair that can go to Sonevafushi ahead of Like A Bee, with Bunkum and Bernardon looking best of the rest. Spinning through the runners and Bernardon has already won twice over fences and might appreciate dropping back to novice company as the handicapper has had his say with him now. Bunkum has also won his novice and his form rates solidly at around the 110 mark. Like A Bee may have been slightly fortunate to win at Stratford last time but there is no doubt that he has ability and we reckon that this gelding, who was provisionally given a rating of 119 over hurdles, can be as good as that over fences and, as such, has to be respected. However, having won from a mark of 114 over hurdles, Sonevafushi has looked at least as good as that in winning a novice event and then getting within two lengths of Ollie Magern last time over fences, and the winner has since gone on to register a good Cheltenham win in a high-class novice event. That sets the form benchmark here and, accordingly, Sonevafushi who, admittedly, has not always looked straightforward, gets our vote today.
