Held up, mistake 4th, ridden 9th, soon weakened
always prominent, chased winner from 7th, no impression 2 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, ridden and one pace from 2 out
pulled hard, led after 1st, jumped left 4th, clear approaching final furlong, eased flat
in touch, weakened 7th, mistake 4 out
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 5th (ditch)
led 1st, soon headed, chased winner to 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
A clear round would see Blue Americo go close but the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has let himself down at his fences with falls in his last two starts and a safer bet looks to be Downpour, who is preferred to Gary's Pimpernel. The selection was a useful hurdler, showing progressive form last term, and has shown enough in two starts over fences this term to suggest that a race of this nature would be well within his compass. Victor Dartnell's Vingis Park has still yet to win a race but chasing was always likely to be his game so he may improve for the switch to the larger obstacles. Mick Easterby's Gary's Pimpernel is another making his debut over fences and cannot be discounted on his first attempt over them but Downpour sets a decent standard and looks the one to beat.
