led to 5th, chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 8th driven and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on one pace from next, never troubled leaders
tracked leader, led 9th, driven and headed 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next
raced keenly, held up in rear, close up 5th, fluent headway to join leaders 9th, led 3 out, soon driven and stayed on well
chased leaders, effort 3 out, soon driven weakened flat
mistake and droped rear 2nd, pushed along 8th never dangerous
held up, hit 4th, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, one pace when mistake last
chase leader, lost place 9th, soon behind
held up on outside, headway to lead 5th, hit 8th, headed next weakened 2 out
held up and behind, tailed off from 2 out, virtually pulled up flat
chased leaders, lost place halfway, no danger after
Caesar's Palace has topweight to overcome but may be up to the task, with Cardinal Mark, Tobesure, Ello Ollie and Garden Feature worth a mention. Caesar's Palace was once thought of as a Triumph Hurdle candidate by Martin Pipe, for whom he won quite a few races over hurdles after coming over from France. However, he failed to progress and joined Lucinda Russell after landing a Stratford claimer in August 2002. He is still searching for his first win for the stable, but has been placed enough, including here last time, to persevere with in the hope that he will come good again. This is not the strongest of contests and despite topweight he looks reasonably treated and gets the vote. Ex-Irish Cardinal Mark was a beaten favourite at Carlisle recently but is slipping down to a fair mark as well, so should come good sooner or later. Tobesure was pulled up over fences last time and reverts to tackling the smaller obstacles. A winner over hurdles at Kelso in 2002, he is another to consider, but the rest make little or no appeal, and we return to Caesar's Palace as the answer.
