held up behind leaders, led 3 out, joined last, kept on well run in until not quicken and headed final 50 yards
tracked leaders, challenged 6th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up last, hit 4th, steady headway approaching 4 out, chased leader from 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead final 50 yards
mistake 1st, tracked leaders until weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
raced keenly, led, mistake 2nd, narrowly headed 6th, led again before 4 out, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened and mistake 2 out
tracked leader, led narrowly 6th to approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
Distant Prospect looks the ideal candidate to benefit from a step up in trip and we will side with him to take this decent prize at the expense of Cornish Rebel and Mon Villez. Andrew Balding's charge stayed over two miles on the flat and has been pleasing enough since his introduction to hurdling. A step up to 2m5f should not inconvenience him and he should have enough speed to cope with the National Hunt breds on view here. Cornish Rebel has always been held in high regard at home but his hurdling technique on his debut effort was enough to make long odds-on backers tear their hair out as he made a series of sloppy leaps. He will not get away with that in this grade. Mon Villez lowered the colours of Bold Bishop last time out and should make the running. Anything Nicky Henderson sends out at the moment should be followed and this one will make more appeal if there is any rain between now and post time. Big Moment has won two weak races but should fully appreciate the step up in trip. He has a fluent technique over hurdles and will be winning more races. Control Man was put in his place by Inglis Drever last time out while Grey Report won here at 50/1 in November and proved that to be no fluke when repeating the dose at shorter odds in a similar event at Cheltenham. At the likely odds, Distant Prospect is given the nod.
