held up in last, went 3rd after 14th, no impression, lost 3rd and weakened 3 out, rider lost whip flat
led, jumped slowly 6th, ridden after 4 out, headed next, no impression on winner from next but kept on
tracked leaders, not fluent 11th or 13th, hit 14th, soon ridden and lost 3rd, weakened 4 out, regained 3rd 3 out
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, not fluent 12th, led 3 out, mistake next, ridden out
Cole Harden won the World Hurdle in 2015 but his jumping was very ponderous over fences at Wetherby in December and it may not be worth taking a short price about Warren Greatrex’ classy eight-year-old over these stiff fences. Sir Ivan has only been placed once in five tries over the larger obstacles and fell at Hereford in March. Alf 'n' Dor has won here over hurdles but has yet to really prove he stays this far so we’ll take a chance on OUR REWARD, who has won a point-to-point as well as a couple of hurdles so should be suited by the switch to fences.
Alf 'n' Dor (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway before 5th, 3rd when not fluent 3 out, no extra in 4th next, 4th of 7, 31 1/2l behind Sir Mangan (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Cole Harden (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led, headed before 5 out, soon quickly weakened, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
Our Reward (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Slight lead until before 3rd, chased winner, niggled along after 8th, every chance 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd approaching next, 2nd again run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Peak To Peak (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gf in Apr.
Sir Ivan 11-8 (10-12) Led after 1st, headed 7th, tracked leader, close up when fell 5 out, at Hereford 3m 1f (4) gs in Mar.
