in touch, headway to chase leading pair after 3 out, upsides 2 out, led between last 2, in command before last, ridden out
took keen hold, hit 1st, chased leader after 1st, closed on leader 6th, led 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next, beaten when hit last
led to 1st, 2nd 3rd, closed up 6th, led 3 out, narrowly headed 2 out, one pace when hung left before last
pulled hard in rear, headway to chase leaders 4th, weakened after next, tailed off
raced wide, held up in rear, some headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up, headway after 6th, chased leaders 3 out, every chance 2 out, chasing winner and held when hit last
led after 1st, raced keenly and set strong pace and clear, reduced lead 6th, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened rapidly
held up in rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, hit last, kept on steadily run-in
chased leaders, hit 3rd, weakened 3rd, struggling when hit next
Postmaster has shown improved form since joining Evan Williams and being placed over hurdles with wins at Fontwell and Fakenham but he struggled under his penalties at Fontwell last time and may do so again here with a safer option looking to be JEEPSTAR, who gets the vote with St Savarin rated the pick of the remainder. The selection stepped up on his debut effort of last season when running out the good winner of a maiden hurdle at Hereford last month and with Venetia Williams' string continuing in good heart, he is taken to follow up that success and defy the penalty. Daring Approach has shown gradual improvement of late without actually winning and should again be thereabouts, while James Fanshawe's Limbo King has failed to trouble the judge on the level but may do better now that he tackles hurdles for the first time. Charlie Longsdon's Sir Ian and Tim Vaughan's Jay Ell The Trier have both shown promise on their only starts so far and have to be considered but a bigger threat is likely to come from St Savarin, who was useful on the flat and ran promisingly on his hurdling debut at Stratford in March. Lack of a recent run is only of slight concern for the seven-year-old but of more concern may be Jeepstar, who gets the vote to win again.
Postmaster 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 3 out, effort next, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 14l behind Ned Ludd (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Jeepstar 9-2 (11-0) Made all, challenged 2 out, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Drawback (11-0) by 4l, 14 ran.
Dan Tucker 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders 3rd, weakening when mistake 6th, 7th of 10, 33l behind Wendel (11-4) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Daring Approach (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Jumped left, led until 2nd, tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, went out badly left last, 2nd of 12, 11l behind Weather Front (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Jay Ell The Trier (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) In rear, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, soon one pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Like Minded (11-4) at Lingfield 2m nhf (6) pol in Nov.
Lepido (ITY) 16-1 (10-12) In rear and keen, jumped slowly 4th, tailed off after 3 out, 15th of 18, well behind Show Winner (10-7) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Limbo King 9-1 (8-11) Mid-division on inside, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced, 5th of 12, 8l behind Falcativ (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct (Flat).
Madness (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no impression, 8th of 18, 30l behind Show Winner (10-7) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Sir Ian (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, one pace over 1f out, 2nd of 14, 10l behind Strokestown (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs in Nov.
St Savarin (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Always prominent, raced freely, wandered 2nd, led 4th, headed approaching 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Your Amount (11-1) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
War Footing 25-1 (11-0) Prominent, weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Awesome George (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f hdl (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Anna Panna 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 6th of 12, 24l behind Lady Pilot (10-7) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Nov '07.
