led, not fluent 5th, headed and not fluent 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th and no chance when mistake and nearly unseated rider last
held up, mistake 3rd, jumped slowly next, lost touch approaching 6th, well behind when mistake last
in touch, headway 3rd, ridden to chase winner 2 out, stayed on flat, no chance with winner
prominent until jumped slowly 2nd, reminders after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 4th, weakened quickly after 6th, tailed off
always prominent, led briefly 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
always behind, tailed off 5th, pulled up before next
tracked leader, led soon after 3 out, ridden and drew clear approaching 2 out, ran on well comfortably
An intriguing novices' hurdle with several likely types including Court Shareef, Gebora and Montoya but a chance is taken with the Polish classic winner Kombinacja, who may not have acclimatised properly when previously seen. Montoya finished clear of the remainder when second to easy winner Thesis at Worcester recently and should be found a suitable opportunity, as should Court Shareef, who has not yet translated flat form over hurdles. The French-bred Gebora warrants respect but Martin Pipe's Exeter bumper winner does not look to be anything out of the ordinary and is passed over. Kombinacja was highly touted before making her hurdling debut at Newcastle in January and was a disappointment there and again at Kempton the following month. The Polish Oaks and St Leger winner has been given plenty of time by trainer Tom George since then and, with the stable firing on all cylinders now, she is worth supporting to finally start to fulfil expectations. Broughton Knows looks the best of the remainder.
