led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and no extra flat
held up, not fluent 1st, steady headway from 14th, went 3rd 17th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well to lead flat, ridden out
held yp, headway after 13th, went 2nd 17th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after next
prominent, jumped right 6th, mistake 16th, soon ridden and one pace
in touch, mistake 5th, headway 14th, ridden approaching 17th, stayed on same pace
ridden and no impression from 17th
ridden 6th, soon behind, tailed off from 17th
chased leaders, mistake 10th, behind from 15th
outpaced approaching 12th, soon behind
held up, ridden approaching 16th, soon beaten
chased leaders to 10th, soon behind
A very competitive handicap chase but the TEAMtalk selection is Lancastrian Jet who won this race last year and was a good second on his reappearance this season at Carlisle behind Hugo De Grez who has won again since. Suntas rates the main danger as he won with plenty in hand at Huntingdon and could still be ahead of the handicapper on that evidence despite his rise in the weights. River Bug was a fair second behind Mr Markham last time out at Plumpton in similar conditions shaping as if he would stay this trip but this looks a more competitive race. Sir Valentine would also be worthy of consideration but he has never won over a trip this far and he is prone to blundering away his chances in his races. Jack The Bear is a lightly raced gelding from a top yard but he ran as if in the handicappers grip when third at Newton Abbot behind Rugged River last time. Ibin St James won well at Fakenham last time out in the style of an improver and he could be a value each-way bet off his feather weight.
