jumped left, took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along and struggling when mistake 10th, tailed off 12th, remote 4th when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leading pair, 2nd before 11th, ridden after 12th, driven before 4 out, closed 2 out, challenged under pressure betweeen last two, upsides last, every chance throughout run-in, just failed
made all and raced wide, pushed along before 4 out, hit 2 out and soon joined, strongly pressed throughout run-in, held on gamely, all out
not fluent 1st, tracked winner, lost 2nd 11th, jumped badly left after, no chance with leading pair from 12th, well tailed off
chased leaders on outside, jumped slowly 2nd, outpaced and struggling 10th, tailed off 12th, pulled up soon after
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER won in decent company at Cheltenham and Stratford last spring and is difficult to oppose in this if returning in the same mood. Bobs Law may be the one to chase him home as he beat an odds-on chance in this two years ago though Nick Williams, who was in the saddle that day, rides the selection this time. Gale Force Oscar may be more forward than Jim Bob Jones and Pathian Prince so looks best of the rest.
Jim Job Jones 11-8fav (11-3) Led narrowly to 2nd, tracked leading pair, went 2nd when blundered 10th, 4 lengths down when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Kilcascan (10-10) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct, 4 ran.
Universal Soldier (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 14th, went 2nd before last, led flat, stayed on, won at Stratford 3m 4f hunt ch (3) gs in May beating Palypso De Creek (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Bobs Law (IRE) 9-1 (12-5) (cp) ap; one pce 3 out, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Junior (12-5) at Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Cl 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Gale Force Oscar (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) (tt) nvr nr to chall, 5th of 7, 27l behind Current Event (11-7) at Hursley Hambledon 3m ptp gd in Dec.
Pathian Prince 5-4 (11-0) Hdwy to ld 12; hdd last; unable qckn, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Sagalyrique (11-0) at Banwen Miners 3m ptp gd in May.
