held up in touch, headway on outer after 4th, hit 3 out, soon weakened and eased
in rear, out paced 5th, some headway approaching 3 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, in 6th and travelling well when quickly pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened quickly after 4 out
chased leaders, went 3rd 2 out, weakened from last
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, never dangerous
led to 4 out, weakened next
towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, blundered 6th, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, chased winner next, one pace
with leader, led 4 out, stayed on well from last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, pushed along and weakened next
held up mid-division, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 6th
YETHOLM has proved disappointing this season but he could have the class to see off Stoop To Conquer and Harouet. Second in a decent race at Newbury in November, things looked to be up on an upward curve but the horse has not been able to land a blow against better opposition. If he can glean a soft lead in the early stages, today's better ground could well prove to be to his liking. Stoop To Conquer is more than capable of winning a race of this nature and he is often well supported when running his better races. The market is watched again. Harouet is lesser rated over hurdles than chase fences. The rare booking of Tony McCoy by Paul Nicholls is equally noteworthy. Ffos Las Diamond is worthy of inspection if the market speaks favourably. He has ran well at Chepstow previously under similar conditions. Mae Cigan is capable though frustrating under both codes. Putney Bridge won a seller for Keith Goldsworthy and while this is a much better race, he cannot be ruled out given the yard's current form. Finzi Contini raced in listed class events in France and while that level is much stronger than this, he clearly has quirks if his last couple of formlines are to be taken into account. Blazing Buck drops in class having predictably struggled at Cheltenham last time. Yetholm is the pick.
Yetholm (USA) 16-1 (10-10) Prominent, led narrowly 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened between last 2, 6th of 11, 14l behind Alfie Spinner (10-8) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Ffos Las Diamond (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, hard driven to challenge after 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 19, well behind Lake Legend (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Stoop To Conquer 33-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 7th, stayed on flat to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Finzi Contini (FR) (10-5) in a race won by Quondor De Kerser (11-4) at Clairefontaine(FR) 2m 2f hdl sft in Aug, 18 ran.
Harouet (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 4th of 14, 8l behind Gold Award (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Call Me Mulligan (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, mistake last, 5th of 13, 43l behind Cannington Brook (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Putney Bridge 11-4fav (11-12) Close up, chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Overlaw (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 17 ran.
Blues In Cee (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, driven to chase leaders 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 10, 22l behind Indian Blood (10-6) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb '09.
Mae Cigan (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Jumped moderately, held up, headway after 6th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, 23l behind L'Eau Du Nil (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar '09.
Blazing Buck 33-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened soon after 5th, struggling in last 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Baccalaureate (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Flexi Time (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened soon after 4 out, went remote 4th flat, 4th of 11, 28l behind City Theatre (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Feb.
Cannon Fire (FR) 33-1 (9-6) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off and pulled before 2 out, in a race won by Volador (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan, 16 ran.
