led, headed 8th, soon beaten
tracked leader, lost place 3rd, effort next, lost touch from 8th
held up in touch, tracked leader 3rd, headway to lead 8th, hit 3 out, unextended
With Glenfarclas Boy having twice disappointed since landing a weak novice chase at Perth in June, this appears a straightforward match between the remaining pair. Byron Lamb showed himself to be a highly progressive hurdler last term rattling up a hat-trick of facile victories but lacks experience over birch and returns from an eight-month absence so TEAMtalk preference is for Mytimie. Malcolm Jefferson's charge confirmed the merit of an encouraging first chase effort when a convincing 15-length winner over this trip at Carlisle last month. Formerly a useful hurdler, the seven-year-old promises to be at least as good over the larger obstacles and, with conditions in his favour, should prove hard to beat in this small field.