pulled hard, chased leader and led 2nd, ridden and headed 4 out, every chance 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, smooth headway 8th, ridden and not quicken 4 out
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway 7th, ridden and led 3 out, clear last, eased flat
took keen hold, prominent, left 2nd 6th, challenged 9th, led 4 out, ridden and headed next, held when mistake last
held up well in rear, headway and pushed along approaching 4 out, stayed on well from 2 out, never on terms
prominent, ridden 8th, weakened from next
held up in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out
led to 2nd, chased leader when fell 6th
We'll take a chance with Dance In Tune to score on his chasing bow, with Special Agenda and Athnowen the likeliest alternatives. Philip Hobbs' six-year-old was a disappointing favourite over hurdles at Ludlow last time, and to be honest has failed to progress on two good wins earlier in his career. That said, a mark of 98 is no great burden for his chasing debut, he is likely to have been well schooled and with Richard Johnson on board is taken to score in this weak race. Special Agenda races off the same mark as when running out an easy winner of a handicap chase at this course last year, and while Charlie Mann's gelding is not exactly in great form, he has had a nice confidence-booster over hurdles at Wincanton recently and looks the biggest danger to the selection. Athnowen is another to consider, having run well on his latest start here, when second from a long way out of the handicap and he remains on a fair mark if compared to some of his old form.
