in touch, ridden and every chance 2 out, ran on flat
held up, headway approaching 5th, led 2 out, ridden last, ran on
in touch, headway when bumped bend approaching 3 out, soon every chance, ridden and hit 2 out, no extra flat
led, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra flat
prominent to approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up and pulled hard, headway 5th, weakening and no chance when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
always towards rear
chased leaders, pushed after 6th, soon lost action and soon eased, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakening when hampered 3 out
mid-division, bumped 1st, jumped right 3rd, lost place after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 6th, soon behind
mid-division, lost place approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden after 6th, weakening when hit 3 out
Should the meeting get the go ahead following an early morning inspection, The Persuader looks likely to get backers off to a good start in the opener where two other former winners Medison and Queen Soraya rate the main dangers. The selection lost his way on the flat with Mark Johnston but seemed to be back to his old self when running out the good winner of a Taunton novices' hurdle last month. With more improvement to come, he is preferred to Martin Pipe's Medison. The French import stepped up on previous efforts when also landing a Taunton novice hurdle last time and has to be respected, especially with the softening ground in his favour. The Venetia Williams-trained Flying Enterprise is likely to struggle to concede weight away all round, while Nicky Henderson's Nightwatchman looks one of the stables lesser lights. Manolo is held by the selection on running last time, while Jonjo O'Neill's In The Park may need more time. A bigger threat is likely to come from Henrietta Knight's Queen Soraya although she has yet to translate her best bumper form over hurdles. While Medison is hard to discount, The Persuader is open to further improvement and is taken to provide trainer Paul Nicholls with another winner.
Flying Enterprise (IRE) 9-4fav Prominent, headway on bit approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 19l behind Daryal at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Medison (FR) 11-10fav Held up in mid-division, headway on bit after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, pushed out, won at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Jan beating Latin Queen by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
The Persuader (IRE) 5-1 Held up in touch, headway from 6th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, hit last, switched left flat, ran on well, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (D) gs in Feb beating Allumee by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Queen Soraya 3-1 Held up mid-division, headway 7th ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Golden Bay at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (C) sft in Dec.
Abraham Smith 150-1 Led, jumped badly right 1st, ridden and headed after 3 out, no extra, 4th of 13, 15l behind The Persuader at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Arabie 14-1 Pulled hard, hit 3rd, led after 4th, headed 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 6th of 9, 33l behind Debbie at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (E) gf in Jul.
Contas (GER) 5-1 Held up and keen, brief effort 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 25l behind Tomina at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (F) gd in Jan.
Dmitri 150-1 Mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off, last of 10, well behind Say What You See at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (C) gd in Dec.
Fair Touch (IRE) 66-1 Towards rear, pushed along halfway, weakened approaching 3f out, 9th of 16, 42l behind Limited Edition at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (E) gd in Jan.
In The Park (IRE) 5-1 Jumped poorly, always behind, driven and lost touch after 6th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Maximinus at Windsor 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Manolo (FR) 25-1 Chased leader, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 13, 21l behind The Persuader at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Nightwatchman (IRE) 8-1 Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, chased leaders and ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 6l behind Fleetwood Forest at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Va Pensiro 150-1 Never fluent, went right 1st, mistake 2nd, always behind, 10th of 14, well behind Manorson at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gd in Feb.
Another Windfall 66-1 Always behind, 15th of 17, well behind United at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Bourneagainkristen 100-1 Always behind, 11th of 15, well behind Youwontcatchmenow at Chepstow 2m mrs nhf (H) sft in Feb.
Don't Matter 150-1 Soon behind, mistake 2nd, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Yes Sir at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Julandi 40-1 Always behind, 6th of 9, 21l behind Light Des Mulottes at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gf in Nov '03.
Royaltea 100-1 Led after 1st until ran out at the 2nd in race won by Dont Call Me Derek at Catterick 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
