tracked leaders, disputed lead after 3 out, driven next, led just after last, hard ridden and all out under pressure
held up, headway 7th, mistake next, stayed on to take remote 3rd approaching last
jumped violently right 1st, soon in touch, not fluent when under pressure 3 out, soon faded
held up in rear, headway under pressure 7th, weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led, headed after 3 out, soon under pressure, weakening when lost 3rd approaching last
mid-division, headway 7th, soon tracking leaders, disputed lead after 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last when not fluent, soon headed, stayed on welll under pressure
behind, not fluent 4th, under pressure 6th, soon detached
An interesting novices' hurdle here where the principals look to be Rodrigo Gonzales, Stellenbosch and Dalyan Dancer, but Jeepstar takes the eye and gets the vote. Venetia Williams has had here string in continuously good form this winter and Jeepstar comes here fresh after a nine month absence. Doubtless well schooled, he acts well on good ground on the level where he is currently rated 75, he stays well and he might just catch on or two of these out. Rodrigo Gonzales was a soft ground c&d scorer in January but was found out under a penalty last time and looks vulnerable again. Stellenbosch is exposed in handicaps where he keeps finding one too good, but trip and ground suit and he is respected back in this sphere. Dalyan Dancer is a pointing winner making his racecourse debut and from a good yard he may well be capable of plenty of improvement. The market might give us a clue to his chance and that of the selection, but without that knowledge we will take a chance on Jeepstar.
Rodrigo Gonzales (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, hung right flat, 4th of 8, 12l behind Superior Wisdom (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Master Medic (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 16l behind Kornati Kid (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Aymard des Fieffes (FR) 125-1 (11-4) Always towards the rear, 12th of 16, well behind Forest Pennant (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Dalyan Dancer 4-1 (11-7) Hdwy 7; led aft 3 out; comf, won at Woodford 3m ptp gf in Apr beating Jacobin (12-0) by 12l, 10 ran.
Indian Doctor 66-1 (10-5) Always in rear, 11th of 13, 25l behind Something's Up (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Jeepstar 10-1 (8-13) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Wild Pitch (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (4) pol in May (Flat).
Stellenbosch (USA) 9-1 (11-1) In touch, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed soon after last, kept on, 2nd of 18, 3/4l behind Pagano (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb.
Zaffarella (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, ridden approaching 7th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 13, well behind King Jack (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
