tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching last, no extra
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
held up, headway approaching 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
held up, not fluent first, ridden and headway 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, every chance after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 6th, soon ridden and weakened
with leader to 5th, mistake next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always in touch, led after 6th, shaken up approaching last, ran on well flat
An all hurdles card gets under way with a lop-sided affair, as Desmond Tutu looks head and shoulders above the opposition here. Paul Nicholls' charge, a dual bumper winner on fast ground last year, opened his account over timber in fine style on this course three weeks ago and should be up to defying a penalty. His only serious rival appears to be New Leader if serious is the right word, Lydia Richards' inmate having improved for the step up in trip and faster conditions when second at Warwick last time. Of the rest, Moscow Whisper makes most appeal, having stayed on well on his bumper debut at Hereford before Christmas.
