in touch, lost place 4th, headway to chase leader approaching 4 out, led 4 out, ridden clear 2 out, 3 lengths clear when fell last
held up mid-division, ridden and one pace 4 out
held up in touch, lost place 4th, ridden and headway 4 out, weakening when left 2nd last
tracked leader, ridden 8th, weakened 2 out, left poor 3rd last
pulled hard, held up in touch, chased leader 3rd, ridden 8th, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed 4 out, kept on and left clear last, ridden out
held up last, ridden and headway approaching 4 out, 2nd and staying on when hampered and unseated rider last
Code Sign gets the verdict here over Waterspray and, possibly, Craobh Rua. The Philip Hobbs-trained selection found himself rated 109 over hurdles last summer, which prompted his handler to send him chasing. A very promising debut second to Old Marsh was followed by a heavy fall at Huntingdon last time. However, he had jumped well to his point of departure and, so long as that experience has not left too many mental scars, he looks to hold very solid claims in this novices' chase. Waterspray has already won his novice - at Huntingdon last time on his debut over the larger obstacles - and, having jumped well there, holds obvious claims today. Craobh Rua has shown promise in his native Ireland and over hurdles in Britain and could do better still over the larger obstacles. Correct And Right benefited from the misfortune of others to score at Newton Abbot in July but has been disappointing overall since and this is much tougher. Celebration Town is interesting in that he has won on the Flat and over hurdles and warrants respect on his chasing bow but, for the winner, we return to Code Sign.
