close up in rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden next, ran on strongly flat to join leader post
tracked leaders until 10th, close up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
led, headed soon after 14th, weakened 3 out
close up, chased leader 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, joined post
tracked leader, not fluent 9th, led soon after 14th, ridden and headed 2 out, still every chance next, kept on one pace
Best Boy Barney won at Kempton three weeks ago having slid down the weights and has been raised 6lb. GLOBALISATION is preferred as he was placed in a higher grade at Aintree recently when beaten only three lengths behind Kerrow and Rebecca Curtis’ charge gets the nod on that form. Alanjou was placed at Worcester during the summer but hasn’t won for some time while Copper Birch and Hollow Blue Sky are also enduring losing runs and have not raced since April.
Globalisation (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders on outside, challenged after 7th, not fluent 3 out, led next, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, no impression on winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 14, 3 3/4l behind Kerrow (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Hollow Blue Sky (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Mid-division, not always fluent, headway 15th, mistake and lost place 19th, 13th of 16, dist behind Any Currency (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Best Boy Barney (IRE) 5-2jfav (10-13) Jumped soundly, made all, reminder after 12th, in command when went right last, stayed on well run-in, won at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Golanova (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Copper Birch (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, steady headway approaching 13th, modest 4th before 4 out, 4th of 9, 19 1/4l behind Barton Gift (11-1) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Alanjou (FR) 11-2 (10-13) Tended to jump right, held up in touch, dropped to rear and struggling from 12th, tailed off, 5th of 6, 27l behind Take A Bow (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
