held up in rear, headway on bit to lead 3 out, mistake last, soon ridden, kept on well
tracked leader, mistake 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance after last, soon beaten
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching next
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened after 3 out
Tollbrae is interesting on his first start for Howard Johnson after leaving Nicky Henderson but a safer proposition may be Benrajah, who gets the vote over Gargoyle Girl. The selection was travelling well when stumbling badly four out at Haydock last time and pulled up shortly afterwards. Provided that he is none the worse for that, Martin Todhunter's gelding has an obvious chance off the same mark. Gargoyle Girl made a winning start to her chasing career at Kelso last week but she was well beaten back on the flat earlier this week and this looks tougher than the Kelso race anyway. Tollbrae undoubtedly has plenty of ability but has been a frustrating customer in the past and it remains to be seen whether the change in stable rejuvenates the seven-year-old. Howard Johnson's recent recruit certainly makes more appeal than Ferdy Murphy's French bred Haut de Gamme, who was well held on his British debut at Stratford and was pulled up in Ireland subsequently. Benrajah holds solid claims though and gets the vote.
