led to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, ridden 7, weakened next
held up and keen, headway 4, led next, ridden and mistake 3 out, ran on
tracked leader, led 3rd, not fluent 4th, headed next, ridden after 7, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, no extra flat
jumped big, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Although beaten back on the level recently, Bushido has been in the form of his life over hurdles of late and is taken to complete a hat-trick at the main expense of Chivite and Dancer Life. Chivite would have an obvious chance on the evidence of his latest outing over timber when landing a Newbury handicap but, along with another Hobbs inmate Just In Time, would not appreciate any further rain. A bigger threat to the selection may come from Jonjo O'Neill's Dancer Life. Tony McCoy's mount has suffered at the hands of the handicapper for his win at Perth last month and may now be a shade high in the weights. Alan King has his string in good form at present so Jaboune has to be respected along with Persian King, who comes here fit from the flat. The selection though is Bushido. Sue Smith's gelding has been mixing flat racing with hurdling to good effect of late and while needing to defy a career high mark to complete a hat-trick is clearly a progressive five-year-old. There may be more to come from the son of Brief Truce and he is taken to win again.
