pulled early and chased leader, led after 2nd, left clear 2 out, easily
tracked leader, jumped badly right and lost place 3rd, reminder 5th, ridden and rallied after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
pulled hard and held up in rear, rapid headway after 3rd, jumped slowly 4th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on one paced from last
prominent, hampered 3rd, headway 4th, challenged on bit 3 out, broke leg and pulled up quickly before 2 out
held up in touch, hampered 3rd, ridden 5th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up after 2 out
In a race that has cut up badly, this looks a virtual penalty kick for Desmond Tutu. It would appear that Paul Nichols' charge has frightened away the opposition, as just seven line up from a total of 57 at the five-day-stage. The lightning fast conditions at the West-Country track would have also made up the minds of quite a few trainers, but in any case they would have it to do against the odds-on favourite. A winner on firm ground on his bumper debut at Fontwell, Desmond Tutu has not been out of the first three since being sent over timber, and was unlucky to come up against an inspired ride from J P McNamara on a return to the Sussex track 10 days ago. That was the race in which J P's stirrup leather broke, but somehow he and partner Colonel Frank managed to hang on and prevail in a photo. You could argue that Desmond Tutu should really have come out on top in the circumstances, but he will not get any easier opportunities than this to open his account over hurdles, with only Martin Pipe's Gung Ho to worry about. He though has been absent since finishing down the field in a Newton Abbot bumper for Mark Pitman last August and is hard to fancy, as are the rest.
