led to 5th, chased leaders, mistake 8th, ridden and weakened 3 out
raced keenly in touch, led 5th, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, headed no extra final 50 yards
held up, tracked leader 5th, mistake and lost place 3 out, no impression from next
held up in rear, headway and in touch when fell 5th
chased leader to 3rd, soon pushed along, behind when hit 4 out, tailed off 2 out
held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd next, ridden approaching last, stayed on under pressure to lead final 50 yards, all out
Like a lot of Ferdy Murphy's horses, Garde Bien has shown improved form this term and the son of Afzal is taken to defy his 7lb penalty with Nowator and Waterspray rated the main dangers. Top weight Nowator had little chance behind the useful novice My Will at Market Rasen last time and is probably better judged on his defeat of Bernadon at Perth in the summer. He has to be respected but faces no easy task giving weight away all round. Richard Guest's Spectrometer is well treated on hurdles form but has yet to show his effectiveness over the larger obstacles, while Waterspray may have had his confidence effected by a fall last time. Kercabellec is interesting on the pick of his hurdles form and represents the stable of John Cornwall that has been in good form this term but the one they all have to beat is Garde Bien, who is taken to defy his penalty.
