held up, hampered 1st, unseated rider 4th
always in rear, behind 6, pulled up approaching 4 out
jumped right throughout, made all, being challenged, ridden and left clear last
tracked winner until 6, soon ridden, behind 4 out, left a distant 3rd, and hampered last
in touch, chased winner 7, every chance 3 out, left a distant 2nd at last
hampered 1st, soon in touch, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, 2 lengths down and closing when fell last
Meltonian has shown ability but in all reality this looks to be little more than a match between Whaleef and Petanque, with the vote going to the last mentioned. Whaleef, three times a winner over hurdles, got no further than the first fence on his debut over the larger obstacles at Ludlow last month so preference is for Petanque. Nicky Henderson's gelding has not won since making a winning debut over hurdles at Doncaster in January last year but has run well in defeat. Bred to do well over fences, the son of King's Ride looks worth a bet. The remainder look a distinctly moderate bunch, with Hi Lily probably the best of them in a race that is taken to go to Petanque.
