tracked leaders, hit 4th, led 6th until after 8th, soon weakened, behind when fell 2 out
tracked leader, led after 8th, soon ridden, headed when mistake 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway after 8th, led 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, soon beaten
led until 6th, prominent, ridden to lead briefly after 8th, weakened 3 out
held up, close 6th when fell 6th
held up, headway 6th, joined leaders 3 out, led on bit after 2 out, clear when hit last, comfortably
This looks a good opportunity for OLD BRIGADE who is preferred to Elton AND Blakeney Run. Jonjo O'Neill's four-year-old won well last time when he beat Thursday's Knight at Ludlow. That horse had won impressively on his previous start so the form does have a solid look to it. He does have a penalty to overcome here but he will relish these conditions and he should take all the beating. Elton ran his best race yet at Wincanton last time and he remains unexposed so he has to enter calculations. He has yet to prove himself on ground as soft as this and he is high enough in the weights so we are happy to take him on. Blakeney's Run looked in need of the outing when he was well beaten here last time out and he should strip fitter today. Lupita has some decent Irish form on the level but he has yet to put his best foot forward over hurdles. Old Brigade won impressively last time and he stands out here as the one to beat.
Good Control (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Not fluent 4th, mistake last, always well behind, 6th of 7, well behind Qrackers (10-6) at N Abbot 2m nov chs (4) gd in Aug.
Elton 14-1 (11-11) In touch, hampered 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 21, 10l behind Bally Conn (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
Lupita (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 24l behind Character Building (11-12) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Blakeney Run 10-1 (11-2) Prominent until 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Figurita (10-13) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
Sailor's Sovereign 25-1 (10-5) Always in rear, tailed off 7th, blundered last, last of 5, well behind Carly Bay (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Old Brigade (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Held up, headway after 5th, led approaching 3 out, pressed when left clear soon after last, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs beating Thursday's Knight (10-12) by 6l, 15 ran.
