in touch, chased winner approaching 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on well towards finish
held up and mistakes, headway 12th, ridden to go 3rd 3 out, kept on and no impression from next
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place 13th
always behind, weakened 14th
held up in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out
led 3rd, clear 2 out, driven out flat
led to 3rd, pushed along and lost place after 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place after 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Benrajah will be better for this step back up in trip here and can make it a second course and distance win, with Forest Dante a threat and Free To Run likely to run his usual solid race. Benrajah has won on fast ground in the past and so conditions should not inconvenience, he gets this trip was staying on into fifth over half a mile shorter at Cheltenham last time. That form was decent, and better still was his win at Newcastle the time before, so a reproduction of either gives him a major chance. Forest Dante is another course winner in the line up, and he runs over this trip here for the third successive race. He has to put behind him a poor run in better company last time, but his penultimate start saw him runner-up to old stager Weaver George. He will love the fast ground and in receipt of 20lbs from the selection he can be the biggest danger. On their running at Stratford a year ago, Forest Dante should have the beating of Free To Run, but the latter does go on the ground and at this trip and he can gain some reward by finishing in the money. Nevertheless Benrajah is the classiest of this lot and that can be decisive here.
