jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, mostly 2nd, challenged 7th, led after 8th, soon ridden, headed before 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, hit last
held up in 4th, not always fluent, led 3 out, driven and stayed on well flat
led, not fluent 7th, headed after next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
mostly 3rd, not fluent 4th, mistake 7th, led approaching 3 out, mistake at headed at hurdle, not fluent 2 out or last, no extra towards finish
Unless Paul Webber's newcomer Eternal City proves to be anything out of the ordinary this looks to be little more than a match between ZAKATAL and Natureofthebeast, with preference for the former. The selection has shown a decent level of form in three outings over hurdles, most recently when narrowly beaten by Oedipe at Newton Abbot in May and, with Philip Hobbs having his team in good form, the lack of a recent run should not be a concern for him. Dual point-to-point winner Natureofthebeast maintained his unbeaten record with victory in his first outing under rules when landing a bumper here earlier this month and he has to be strongly respected first time out over hurdles. Youandme completes the quartet but needs to improve on all known form to trouble the judge.
Eternal City Hernando gelding out of Eversince.
Natureofthebeast (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders and keen, led over 2f out, kept on well, won at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gd beating Blue Signal (10-6) by 2l, 12 ran.
Youandme (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Led until not fluent 3rd, led next until 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Red Rouble (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Zakatal 3-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, pushed along and challenged approaching 2 out, upsides winner when hit last, no extra near finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Oedipe (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
