chased winner, every chance 7th, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next
made all, quickened clear 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on gamely flat
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened
in touch, rapid headway after 5th, challenged and ridden before 3 out, weakened after next
prominent, ridden before 3 out, soon behind
chased leaders, ridden 7th, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden 6th, lost touch before next
mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well flat, nearest finish
held up mid-division, some headway 6th, ridden before 3 out, stayed on same pace
always behind and soon ridden, mistake 4th, tailed off from 6th
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, one pace
held up, ridden before 6th, soon behind
mid-division, ridden and mistake 3 out
towards rear, weakened 6th, soon tailed off
Chepstow bumper winner Desmond Tutu put up a decent performance when second at Wincanton on what was only his second start over hurdles, and if he can produce the expect improvement here he should be hard to beat. The main danger to Paul Nicholls' horse could be Ever Present, who won at Bangor in November but arguably put up a better performance in defeat when fourth to Keltic Bard at Cheltenham last time, and he seems sure to go close here. The only other horse to merit serious consideration is Nonantais, who had shaped with promise before getting off the mark in a weakish race at Taunton last time.
