held up in rear, jumped left and not that fluent, fell 5th
mid-division, struggling after 5th, well beaten 7th, mistake 4 out, tailed off
made all, not fluent 1st, jumped right 6th, clear 3 out, nudged out flat, easily
prominent, shaken up and one pace in 3rd 3 out, well held by front pair from next
tracked leaders, keen early, 4th and one pace before 3 out, well held by front pair next
prominent, ridden after 4 out, no impression on winner from next, stayed on
took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, lost place from 6th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
in rear, mistakes, well beaten from 7th, tailed off
mid-division headway when jumped right 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
The lack of a recent run is a bit of a concern for supporters of Don't Be Late, though he was third on his chasing debut in this last year. Germany Calling won on this card 12 months ago over hurdles and is worth a second look. Paradise Valley still has time on his side and is another to consider while Collodi thrived on good going over hurdles last summer. Such A Legend was quite highly tried in a couple of runs over fences at the end of last year and Upsanddowns won twice over hurdles in the autumn. SURENESS has done all of her winning on good ground or faster. Her ability to jump fences is a bit of an unknown but she gets a handy mares' allowance in this and could come out on top if she relishes the new challenge.
Collodi (GER) 7-2 (11-5) In touch on inside, outpaced 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace under pressure flat, never reached leaders, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Manhattan Swing (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Don't Be Late (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Held up, went 3rd from 5th, closed 4 out, no impression 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Makari (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chase (4) gd in May '14.
Germany Calling (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Took keen hold in last trio, never a factor, 9th of 10, well behind Silsol (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Paradise Valley (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Mistake 1st, always behind, tailed off, 16th of 17, well behind Theinval (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
Red Seventy 25-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and headway 2 out, keeping on same pace in 6th when hit last and unseated rider, in a race won by Boss Des Mottes (10-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Such A Legend 4-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced when not much room after 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 21l behind Oyster Shell (11-8) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Upsanddowns (IRE) 7-4 (11-5) Raced keenly, chased leader, went right and hit 3 out, soon dropped to 3rd and kept on same pace from next, hit last, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Set The Trend (11-5) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Veroce (FR) (10-3) in a race won by Suzerain (10-3) at Pau(FR) 2m 1f 4yo hdl hvy in Jan '13, 13 ran.
Sureness (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tarcked leaders, effort on inside between last 2, ridden and weakened after last, 6th of 8, 25l behind Stephanie Frances (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares listed nov hdl (1) gd in Apr.
