held up in touch, ridden and headway approaching 4 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and weakened 4 out
soon led, headed approaching 6th, weakened approaching 2 out and mistake, soon one pace
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division when pecked 2nd, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
not fluent and never in contention, behind when pulled up before 2 out
prominent and not fluent, weakened 4th, soon behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, lost position 6th, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and no impression from 3 out
always prominent, every chance when not fluent 3 out, ridden 2 out, rallied and switched left when slow jump last
always prominent, tracked leader, led approaching 6, led approaching 4 out, kept on well flat
The three horses to look out for in this opener are Gulabill, Bubba Boy and Were In Touch with the preference going to the last named. Paul Nicholls has his team in fine form at present and although Were In Touch has not run since February 2003 when winning a bumper at Plumpton on his only outing to date that proves that this gelding has the ability to win first time out. Of course he may be a little ring rusty but Nicholls has a very good first time out strike rate so this horse will not want for fitness. Gulabill has his first run over hurdles and with a run under his belt when finishing second in a Haydock bumper earlier in the month will be that much sharper and has to be respected. As does Bubba Boy from the Pipe yard who has shown a decent level of form in bumpers but fell first time over hurdles at Market Rasen and it will remain to be seen if the horse has regained his confidence. So for the winner we return to Were In Touch.
