held up, pecked 4th, mistake 14th, struggling approaching 16th, behind when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, mistake 9th, steady headway 12th, challenged going well 2 out, every chance when fell last
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed flat, not quicken
with leader to 7th, not fluent next, ridden and mistake 4 out, weakened after next
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 10th, ridden and mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent, not fluent 14th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
prominent to 7th, ridden 14th, lost touch approaching 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up and behind, headway approaching 17th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, soon led, ran on well
A decent opener in which Zaffaranni sets the standard, courtesy of her two wins from just three starts over fences. The Dennis Caro-trained mare was pretty good over hurdles, but always looked the type to do better over the bigger obstacles and began to fulfil that promise with a win on her chasing bow at Newbury over three miles (giving weight and a beating to Paxford Jack in the process). Slightly disappointing at Wetherby next time, she bounced back by thrashing her rivals over two and a half miles at Huntingdon last time. She will love the ground, looks capable of shouldering her big weight and provided she sees out the trip, which is only a minor question mark against her, she is the selection here. Orswell Crest has a good record on decent ground, so may find the cut here going against him. The eight-year-old has been running in handicap company and has come up with wins at Wincanton and Aintree over 3m 1f. His slightly below par effort last time again raises questions as to his ability to handle the ground, but if he does then he should be thereabouts. Paxford Jack has 13 lengths to find with the selection on their Newbury running and is 3lb worse off here, so a place looks to be his best hope. One who has plenty of experience under his belt is Barryscourt Lad. Most of his five runs have been in hunter chases and frustratingly for his supporters he has finished second four times, including here and at Aintree in the Spring. Sure to be fit and well schooled, with A P McCoy up he has to be treated with the utmost respect here and it would be no surprise if he were good enough to win. Of the remainder, Joe Di Capo's hurdles rating of 100 would give him a chance, but he has looked a bit more one-paced over fences, including when a distant second to Keiran at Newcastle last time. Trip and ground are not a problem, but he does not quite look good enough to land this prize. Fluff 'n' Puff is another with some ability, winning at Ludlow last month over three miles. However, his second to Rigadoon at Huntingdon last time left the impression that he is exposed now and a place will probably again be his best hope.
