tracked leader, effort approaching 3 out, not fluent next, never able to challenge
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, detached from 6th, tailed off 4 out
made all, not fluent 7th, pushed along after 4 out, stayed on strongly
Viens Chercher was highly tried after winning here over hurdles just over a year ago. He has the ability to make a race of it with BLUE HERON as Dan Skelton's once-classy hurdler is bound to be a little ring-rusty in his first run since finishing fourth in the 2015 Aintree Hurdle. Veteran Next Exit looks hopelessly out of his depth and would need accidents to befall the other two.
Blue Heron (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 20 1/2l behind Jezki (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Next Exit (IRE) 150-1 (10-0) In touch, went right 5th, behind from next, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Unify (11-8) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Viens Chercher (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway from 4th, lost place 3 out, weakened after, 8th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Shrewd (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb.
