held up, headway 5th, ridden after next, weakened 3 out
held up, ridden 4th, weakened after next
in touch, challenging when mistake 2 out, soon led, ridden out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace
chased leaders to 5th, soon behind
behind, ridden and headway after 3 out, never near leaders
chased leader, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, effort after 3 out, soon weakened
A very competitive handicap hurdle that may fall to Commercial Flyer, with Caroubier and Monte Cinto the main dangers. Martin Pipe's five-year-old is very lightly raced and open to any amount of improvement. The pick of his three runs last season was a runners up place behind Perfect Liaison at Exeter, it wasn't the strongest of contests, but he does get in here on a very fair mark. Caroubier has the advantage of a couple of recent outings, although placed, he has been beaten quite a long way and needs to improve. Monte Cinto's form tailed off at the end of last season, but during the winter put up some excellent efforts, and if back to his best would be a major threat to all. So all in all a pretty weak event and with more scope for improvement than most of these, Commercial Flyer is given the vote.
