led to 1st, remained close up, led 3 out, ridden and not fluent last, headed flat, edged left and no extra towards finish
held up, headway 5th, one pace from 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, led flat, drew clear
in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon outpaced
held up, ridden approaching 4th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
in touch, joined leaders 3 out, weakened after next
held up mid-division, headway 5th, weakened approaching last
always behind, tailed off from 5th, pulled up before 3 out
led after 1st, wandered 3rd, headed 3 out, soon weakened
held up, weakened from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
In a fair race, The Sawyer is selected ahead of Mister Potter and Alternator. Now, Mister Potter revelled in the conditions when scoring over course and distance last time and is respected. Pee Jay's Dream also comes here as a winner and he possibly has to improve in order to score, despite the step up in trip probably being okay for him. The Sawyer will love the conditions and looked progressive when scoring at Plumpton last time. He holds scope for further improvement and, as such, gets our vote today. A half-brother to Accordello, Alternator looked progressive when scoring in the mud at Warwick last time and he too gets plenty of respect. Of the others, and Marufo was going well when coming down on his hurdling debut, Hopkins will need more than he has shown so far in order to win, Nuits St George has likeable breeding but seems unlikely to score on his hurdling debut - similar comments applying to the well-bred Scott's Mill - and Rood Report needs to build considerably on his bumper form if he is to feature today. All in all, then, a decent race in which The Sawyer gets the vote.
Mister Potter 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy beating Aitch Doubleyou (11-9) by 14l, 10 ran.
Pee Jay's Dream 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden last, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating The Ring (11-5) by 3l, 15 ran.
The Sawyer (BEL) 11-8 (11-3) Tracked leaders, led briefly 4th, led again 4 out, ridden clear, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft beating Otto des Pictons (11-6) by 12l, 5 ran.
Alternator (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Always prominent, led over 3f out, driven out, won at Warwick 2m nhf (6) hvy in Dec beating The Speaker (10-9) by 5l, 19 ran.
Honour Guard (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Led, headed 2 out, soon driven and outpaced, weakened quickly and pulled up at the last in race won by Chief Dan George (11-0) at Hexham 3m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Hopkins (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Nictos de Bersy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Marufo (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, 3rd and travelling well when fell at the 4th in race won by Trigger The Light (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Nuits St George (IRE) Zaffaran gelding out of Hollygrove Supreme.
Oeil d'Estruval (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until weakened after 3 out, 10th of 18, more than 8l behind Fredensborg (11-0) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft.
Rood Report 4-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, mid-division, headway 8f out, ridden 4f out, went 2nd well over 1f out, no chanec with winner, 2nd of 13, 18l behind Openditch (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Scott's Mill 16-1 (8-9) Ridden to lead, headed 10f out, driven halfway, weakened well over 4f out, 9th of 13, 35l behind Lake Wakatipu (9-0) at W'hampton 2m 1f banded stk (7) pol in Apr (Flat).
