held up, headway 5th, stayed on one pace
raced keen in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, never dangerous
held up, ridden and behind from 5th
held up, ridden 5th, soon beaten
held up, headway 2 out, shaken up flat, led post
ridden 5th, under pressure and beaten when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened
never better than mid-division
tracked leader, jumped well, edged right and led 2 out, pressed last, ran on well flat, headed post
raced keen tracking leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
If he can get his jumping sorted out, Hasty Prince is likely to start a worthy favourite here, based on his half-length second to Mythical King at Uttoxeter on debut last time. With going and trip the same, he has plenty in his favour and many feel he would have won had he not blundered at the second last that day. A clear round should see him go one better. Another interesting runner here is Tagar, from the Nicky Henderson yard. Beaten 22 lengths by Sites at Newbury last time, he stayed on well without being knocked about to get to the winner and should come on for the run. Clearly one with ability, it would be no surprise to see him lead them home. Desert Air makes his debut over obstacles here and having been prepared by Martin Pipe, a big run is expected. A highest rating of 74 on the flat would give him a chance if he can convert that to hurdling, and he is sure to have been well prepared. However there is a big question as to whether he can handle the ground, having run well on faster surfaces on the level. Of the remainder, Balladeer swerved badly and unshipped his pilot on debut at Taunton. Providing that hasn't knocked his confidence - and it is very unlikely that trainer Henrietta Knight would let him back out on the racecourse if it had - then he should be able to show us more of what he is capable of here. Coming from the Philip Hobbs yard, Lord Ville merits immediate respect in such a contest. The gelding blew up on debut at Newbury in November, but after a six week break he should shape up better here and it wouldn't be a shock to see him involved at the finish.
