in touch, ridden halfway, tailed off final 4f
held up, ridden and headway on inside over 3f out, kept on but no impression final 2f
led, ridden approaching 4f out, headed 3f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened final 2f
in touch, ridden approaching 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened over 3f out
tracked leader, ridden over 4f out, challenged 2f out, one-paced final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3f out, stayed on well final 2f
mid-division, ridden approaching 3f out, kept on from 2f out
held up, headway approaching 5f out, ridden approaching 3f out, kept on to take 2nd approaching final furlong, no chance with winner
Not much to go on here with only six of the runners having raced in public before and two of them only have experience in the point-to-point field. Of them Paul Webber's winning pointer Opal Ridge clearly has ability but the form of the stable is a worry and, of those with experience, Henrietta Knight's Caribbean Cove, who finished seventh of 11 on his Ludlow debut makes more appeal. Alistair Lidderdale's Supreme Dawn has shown signs of ability but this is most likely to go to one of the newcomers. Henry Daly's Alforenka has to be respected coming from a yard with a good record in this type of event, as does Nikson from the Mark Pitman stable. Jonjo O'Neill has a strong team of bumper horses and Majestic Moonbeam is sure to know his job first time out but slight preference is for Nicky Henderson's Trabolgan. A son of King's Ride, he is bred to be useful and, with the stable continuing in such good form, he gets the vote.
