always behind, mistake 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold and soon tracked leaders unti blundered and lost place 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
made most to 8th, stayed pressing leader until led 11th, not fluent and headed 4 out, led approaching next, driven and edged right before last, no extra and headed near finish
held up in rear, mistake 10th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, led narrowly 4 out, headed approaching next, every chance when mistake 2 out, weakened before last
in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 11th, blundered and weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
pressed leader, led 8th to 11th, mistake and lost place 4 out, rallied under pressure and mistake 2 out, switched left before last, stayed on gamely to lead near finish
held up in touch, mistakes 6th and 11th, behind and struggling from 4 out
held up, mistake 4th, well behind and no chance before 4 out
Last years winner La Landiere had a progressive profile coming into this and Wild Knight will need to be somewhere near as good if he is to defy what looks a stiff mark (120) on this venture into handicap company, and we prefer the chance of Harry's Dream, who made a winning start to his chasing career at Wincanton. A winner between the flags, this brother to the useful chaser Farmer Jack was always going to be better when he tackled the larger obstacles and it was no surprise when he was pitched into handicap company on his debut over fences, where he could take advantage of his favourable hurdles mark. He remains well treated on just a 6lbs higher mark and with plenty of improvement to come, he is the one to be with. Wild Knight, a 107 rated hurdler is clearly a much better chaser, but he will need to be ahead of the Handicapper if he is to defy this mark. Translucid will find this much easier than when chasing home Thisthatandtother and company around Sandown, but he gets in here off his hurdles mark and doesn't look particularly well treated. Alvino looks to have got over his breathing problems which have hindered him in the past, and will be suited by this track (only won going right-handed), but his overall form leaves him with something to find in this. Toulouse looks every inch a chaser, but he only got as far as the first on his chasing debut and is probably best watched here, while the lightly weighted Running Machine, the winner of a poor contest at Folkestone, looks to have plenty on in this better contest. Jardin De Beaulieu has plenty of chasing experience, but has looked nothing out of the ordinary, although there were signs at Newbury that all is not lost with him just yet. Gielgud looks too high in the handicap to be competitive (10lbs higher than last winning mark over timber), but Genuine Article is one of the more interesting one's as his defeat of Motcomb Jam was made to look much better after that rival trotted up at Fakenham. However, Harry's Dream is open to plenty of improvement and he could prove to have been let in lightly in this.
