held up behind, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, no impression
disputed lead until 3rd, remained prominent, chased winner 12th until 14th, weakened 16th, pulled up before next
held up, headway after 17th, ridden 4 out, 5th and beaten when blundered badly 3 out
not always fluent, mid-division, ridden 14th, weakening when mistake 16th, behind when pulled up before 18th
prominent, chased winner 5th, close 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 11th
mid-division, jumped right 5th, ridden approaching 16th, weakened 3 out
always prominent, chased winner 14th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, about 5 lengths 2nd and no impression when mistake 2 out
mid-division, blundered 9th, ridden and lost place after 12th, behind when mistake 15th, pulled up before 17th
made virtually all, not fluent 10th, hit 13th, driven clear approaching last, stayed on well
mid-division, ridden and lost place before 7th, behind when fell 13th
always behind, tailed off 5th, pulled up after 12th
With the Pipe horses still struggling to show their best form, It Takes Time and Mondial Jack are probably best left out of calculations so the vote goes to the novice Willie John Daly, who is preferred to Frenchman's Creek. The selection has looked an improved performer for the switch to the larger obstacles this season and put up a career best effort when rallying to beat Desailly at Newbury last month. A 7lb rise for that is perfectly fair and, in anticipation of further improvement, he looks the one to beat. Frenchman's Creek has come back well after a lengthy absence and is another that we may not have seen the best of yet. He makes more appeal that the Paul Nicholls-trained Un Jour A Vassy, who has claims on his best but is more exposed than most of his main rivals. Artic Jack has given little sign of encouragement this term and of more interest may be Tom George's Lord Of Illusion, although he has more to do off a 10lb higher mark than when winning at Newbury in a weaker race last time. Baron Windrush and Smile Pleeze are others worthy of a mention but the vote goes to Willie John Daly, who is taken to win again.
