led, ridden 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
chased leader, jumped right 5th and reminders, jumped right 12th, outpaced 15th, rallied 4 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, chased leader 3rd, weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 12th, ridden and headway 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, could not reach winner
mid-division, ridden and weakened 10th, tailed off from 11th
jumped slowly first, soon behind, reminders 3rd and 11th, ridden and headway 12th, led approaching 4 out, soon clear, stayed on gamely from last
held up in mid-division, mistake 7th, behind 8th, tailed off and pulled up 14th
Lucky Clover, with Joe Tizzard once again on board, can follow up at the expense of Maidstone Monument, with Vague Idea and Dunmanus Bay expected to make their presence felt as well. Lucky Clover had been a frustrating horse to follow, but finally came good again here three weeks ago when easily holding Dunmanus Bay. A three pound turnaround in the weights will not be enough for Martin Pipe's challenger to turn the tables and a bigger threat is likely to be Maidstone Monument, a consistent sort who, like the selection, is a course and distance winner at the west-country track. He was giving a stone to the winner when beaten at Fontwell and should again be involved. Vague Idea is something of a standing dish here these days and came from an impossible position to win the time before last. Put over hurdles last time, he will appreciate being back over the bigger obstacles, but will find Lucky Clover a tough nut to crack. Colin Tizzard is aiming him at the Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham, an event that he won two years ago, and this will tune him up nicely for that target.
