held up, smooth headway approaching 11th, with winner after 4 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up, smooth headway approaching 11th, led after 4 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely flat
held up, ridden after 15th, weakened after next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 12th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance last, stayed on well flat
chased leaders, ridden after 16th, one pace from 3 out
tracked leaders, led briefly after 4th, mistake 11th and 4 out, soon ridden, 4th and held when mistake last
held up in touch, ridden after 16th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
not fluent, led, headed and mistake 4th, blundered 10th, hit next, soon behind, pulled up before 16th
held up, mistakes, ridden and headway approaching 3 out., mistake next, stayed on well flat
tracked leader, led approaching 5th, not fluent 6th (water), headed 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
Last year's Thomas Pink Gold Cup winner reappears in this staying event and his participation ensures that more than half of the field are out of the weights proper. The Venetia Williams-trained Jocks Cross is still suffering at the hands of the handicapper following his Welsh National success of two years ago and, with that race again his target this term, he is probably best left alone. Henrietta Knight and Paul Nicholls both have their strings in good form at the moment so the claims of their runners, Southern Star and Murt's Man, respectively have to be respected but this really should go to Martin Pipe's Stormez. The five-year-old benefits more than any other runner by the participation of his stablemate, looks well treated on hurdles form and, in receipt of 20lbs from the topweight, he is the TEAMtalk selection.
