always prominent, led approaching 4 out, jumped right from 2 out, comfortably
held up, hit 1st, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
held up, hit 3rd, ridden and headway after 11th, no further impression from 4 out
held up in touch, weakened after 11th, pulled up before last
held up in touch, hit 8th, ridden after 11th, one pace from 4 out
tracked leaders until blundered and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders, chased winner from 4 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on but always held
led, headed approaching 4 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before last
An interesting novices' chase can go to Backbeat, who is going the right way and has fewer questions to answer than Specular and Sweet Diversion, who both have a little to prove for various reasons. The latter makes his debut over fences this afternoon and is sure to have been schooled well at home. He almost certainly needed the run on his reappearance and should have benefited from the outing. He looks a typical chaser in the making and can only go on from here. Specular, who reputation took a few knocks last season, was far from impressive on his chasing debut and now has something to prove. He is not one to take too short price about. Nas Na Riogh has already won in this sphere and, with the mares allowance in her favour, holds rock solid claims of making the frame. However, this is much tougher than the race she was arguably a fortunate to win after the favourite fell last time. Therefore the vote goes Backbeat, who, despite not facing the easiest of tasks in this company, handled this course and distance very well when winning here a fortnight ago and his proven ability over these fences makes his case slightly more the stronger today.
