led and soon clear, ridden and headway after 3 out, kept on one pace
in touch, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and every chance last, not pace of winner flat
always towards rear, blundered 3rd, no impression
prominent, mistake 3rd, blundered 4th, weakened after 3 out
mistake 2nd, always behind
mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden and kept on well to go 3rd approaching last
always towards rear, behind 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in touch, headway from 5th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, led soon after, pushed clear flat, easily
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, no impression
chased leader, led on bit after 3 out, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, weakened approaching last
never better than mid-division
always towards rear, ridden 5th and soon weakened
Forest Green, a winner of his only start over hurdles in France, is bred to handle this faster ground and is taken to make a winning start for Paul Nicholls, getting the vote ahead of Recount and Smokey Mountain. The last mentioned dead-heated with Lysander at Chepstow last month and has to be respected on that evidence but this looks tougher under his penalty. Blue Train is rated in the 80s on the level and could be of interest on his hurdling debut for Jonjo O'Neill, while Ameeq is fit from the flat and showed promise on his hurdling debut back in December. Gary Moore's colt is certainly of interest as is Charlie Mann's Recount, who is closely matched with Smokey Mountain on Chepstow form but Forest Green could be a decent recruit and gets the vote to make a winning British debut.
Smokey Mountain (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Led 1st, soon headed, stayed prominent, led 4 out, ridden 3 out, pressed close home, joined on line, won at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr deadheating with Lysander (10-11), 16 ran.
Sou'wester 5-1 (10-11) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway to lead 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 14, 23l behind Penny Park (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Not For Diamonds (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 9th of 14, 41l behind Bougoure (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Recount (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, hung left and every chance last, no extra flat, 3rd of 16, 3/4l behind dhtrs Smokey Mountain (10-11) & Lysander (10-11) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Xcentra 14-1 (10-7) Chased leader and jumped right 1st, ridden after 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, weakening in 4th when fell at the last in race won by Dreams Jewel (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Ameeq (USA) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 8, 41l behind Spidam (11-4) at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec.
Blue Train (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, always in rear, outpaced halfway, 13th of 14, 31l behind Wavertree Warrior (8-5) at Windsor 1m hcap (4) gd in Apr (Flat).
Forest Green (FR) (10-3) won at Enghien 2m 4yo hdl in Apr beating Supercilious (10-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
