mainly tracked winner until 4 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in 4th, hit 9th, not fluent 4 out, went 3rd before next, soon driven, weakened approaching last
took keen hold, made all, mistake 1st, jumped right 2nd and 3rd, not fluent 9th, clear before last, easily
mostly close 3rd until chased winner 4 out, ridden before 2 out, well beaten when hit last
Jonjo O'Neill's Good Company disappointed in two starts last month, latterly in hunter chase at Stratford, and despite seemingly being well treated on the best of his form he is hard to fancy back in a handicap with a better bet looking to be MISTY DANCER, who gets the vote ahead of Safari Adventures. Lucinda Russell's gelding has like a lot of the yard's runners performed better of late and was not disgraced when third behind Warpath at Worcester last month so he has to be considered. Charlie Longsdon's Mighty Matters ran better in a hunter chase last time but his form in handicaps of late has been below par and he is likely to struggle to give weight away all round. The vote then goes the way of the Venetia Williams-trained Misty Dancer, who races off the same mark as when a close second to Mustangsallyrally at Fontwell at the beginning of the month and he can go one better today.
Mighty Matters (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 5 out, challenged next, jumped right 3 out, led narrowly before next, headed soon after, ridden and weakened before last, 4th of 14, 30l behind Bob Hall (12-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hts chs (5) gd in May.
Good Company (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Hampered 1st, not fluent and looked unhappy after, in rear, headway when mistake 7th, lost place next, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Ryeman (11-10) at Stratford 2m 1f hts chs (5) gf in May.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Jumped right, led, headed last, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Warpath (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Misty Dancer 9-1 (11-11) In touch, headway to 2nd 10th, led 11th, headed 4 out, rallied to lead next, strongly pressed last, no extra and headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Mustangsallyrally (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.