took keen hold in touch, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace
held up, headway after 5th, switched right approaching 2 out, every chance between last 2, not fluent last, no extra
landed steeply and unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, driven clear flat
led to 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
not fluent, tracked leader until 3rd, weakened 5th
Street Life is an interesting runner on his debut over hurdles but needed a soft surface to show his best on the flat and preference is for Fandani, who gets the vote over Natal. The last mentioned is trained by Paul Nicholls and obviously surprised connections when making a winning start to his new career at Worcester as he was sent off at 10/1. There should be more to come from the four-year-old but he needs to improve again to get the better of the selection. Charlie Mann's Fandani fulfilled debut promise at Wincanton behind Cerium when running out the three-and-a-half length winner over Earth Man on a return visit to the same venue on his only subsequent outing. That looks the best form on offer and, while Nicholls obviously has a line to the selection through the runner-up there, Fandani appeals as the one to beat. Malcolm Jefferson's Portavadie has done little wrong of late following up his bumper success at Haydock with wins at Kelso and Hexham in his first two starts over hurdles and warrants plenty of respect but a double penalty leaves him with more to do in a better company today and at the likely odds he looks worth taking on. A market move for Storm Clear would be of interest, while Paul Webber's Willows Gate is open to improvement but Fandani is going the right way and is taken to win again.
