in touch, headway 4 out, led after last, stayed on strongly
disputed lead 4th, weakened before next
held up towards rear, hampered 4th, headway 4 out, effort 2 out, stayed on to chase winner flat
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led before next, headed flat, no extra
chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 3rd, behind when hampered next, no danger after
towards rear, saddle slipped and pulled up after 3rd
disputed lead, led 4th, headed after 3 out, soon one pace
held up towards rear, headway and in touch when mistake and unseated rider 4th
held up in rear, headway and in touch halfway, weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway after 3rd, effort 2 out, 5th when lost action and pulled up before last
behind, hampered 4th, never dangerous
There is nothing to choose between Aston Lad and Andre Chenier on official ratings but the pair may have to settle for a minor role behind Samaria, who gets the vote. The Nicky Richards-trained filly showed plenty of promise without winning on the level for Chris Wall, earning a rating of 74 at her best, and would not need to be anything too special to win this on her hurdling debut. By comparison, Micky Hammond's Aston Lad is only rated 50 on the level but has shown respectable form in three starts over hurdles latterly when a close fifth behind the useful Rhapsody Rose at Bangor. Andre Chenier fulfilled earlier promise when opening his account over timber by landing a novice event over course and distance last month. He rates a bigger threat than Micky Hammond's gelding. Named At Dinner has shown a consistent level of form and should be thereabouts again, while Sylvie d'Orthe may have been freshened up by a break but Samaria makes plenty of appeal on her debut and gets the vote to win first time out.
