made all, clear before 3 out, unchallenged
tracked leaders in 4th, outpaced 4 out
in touch, reminders after 4th, tailed off before 8 out, jumped badly left 4 out
with leaders, chased winner, kept on and no impression before 3 out
chased leaders, reminders before 4 out, weakened before next
in rear, headway from 4 out, went 3rd before next, no impression
Australia Day is effective on the Flat and over hurdles and fences but didn't show much sparkle on his reappearance on Polytrack. Passato also looks up against it while Regal D'estruval has finished tailed off in two of his last three starts and fell in the other. FALCON ISLAND is still 5lb higher than his last win but this represents a drop in grade for Colin Tizzard's useful chaser and he looks the one to beat ahead of last month's Ludlow second Sublime Talent and Exeter runner-up Coole River, who has never raced on ground this fast before.
Australia Day (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Jumped right at times, took keen hold, led, clear until after 3 out, headed next, soon weakened, last of 4, 23l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-8) at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Passato (GER) 66-1 (10-7) Led until 4th, pressed leader until 22nd, lost place next, pulled up before 25th, in a race won by Big Shu (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Falcon Island 8-1 (10-3) Chased leader, led 3rd, headed 5th, chased leader until 10th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 6, 15l behind Hunt Ball (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs (2) gf in Apr.
Coole River (IRE) 2-5fav (11-0) Led, headed 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Ice 'n' Easy (11-7) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Apr.
Regal D'estruval (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Led until 6th, weakened after next, tailed off, moderate 4th, last of 4, well behind Rody (11-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Apr.
Sublime Talent (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway when left 3rd 4 out, chased winner 2 out, mistake last, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Topthorn (10-4) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
