led, slight mistake 3rd, ridden and headed after 13th, one pace from next
never a factor, left 3rd 4 out
behind, slow jump 6th, outpaced from 11th, never nearer
tracked leader until weakening 12th, 3rd when pulled up quickly next
held up, mistake 7th, went prominent 11th, went 2nd after 12th, led 3 out, pushed clear, easily
behind when unseated rider 2nd
tracked leaders thoughout, 2nd and every chance when fell 12th
Just the seven runners contest this novices' handicap chase but only Georgic Blaze can safely be dismissed. At the top of the handicap both Kingston-Banker and Ideal Jack were pulled up last time and are not probably reliable betting propositions, while at the other end of the weights Hi Rudolf has to race from 6lbs out of the handicap. With Henry Daly's horses in such good heart Flying Fortress has to be respected, especially after showing his best form at Huntingdon earlier this month, but the six-year-old needs to improve again to win this. Richard Lee's El Bandito sprung a surprise when winning at Leicester last month and it remains to be seen whether he can reproduce the same sort of form off his new mark. A safer option then may be Pardon What. Always considered likely to be better over fences than over hurdles, the son of Theatrical Charmer put some disappointing efforts over timber behind him when making a winning start to his chase career when beating Mister Club Royal at Bangor earlier in the month. A 6lb rise may not prevent him from following up.
