tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, joined leader 13th, chased winner next, mistake 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd last
led, reminders after 10th, headed 14th, chased leading pair after, driven before 3 out, pecked 2 out, rallied to well held 2nd last
chased leader to 4th, stayed 3rd, not fluent 13th, weakened 3 out
always last, not fluent 9th, mistake and driven 11th, blundered and struggling next, tailed off
jumped well, tracked leading trio, 3rd from 9th, led 14th, in command 3 out, stayed on well
LORD BRUNELLO looks worth chancing here; Local Present and Oamaru Stone look capable is providing the stiffest opposition. Lawney Hill's gelding put in one of his best performances when second to Dastardly Dick at Stratford in March. That was in a small field and with the limited numbers on offer here he could but in a better race today, especially having shaped with promise last time out. AP McCoy takes over in the saddle on the Ron Hodges-trained gelding Local Present and it will need all of his strength to force this reluctant hero into winning, whilst Turbulance was a point-to-point winner a month ago and is not discounted off this mark of 103. Ethiopia and Oamaru Stone clashed at Plumpton in May and are weighted similarly this afternoon; with Aiden Coleman a more experienced pilot than Ryan Mahon, preference would have to be for Ethiopia in that battle. Neither should be far away overall, however the marginal verdict is given to Lord Brunello.
Turbulance (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) (cp) held up; hdwy 13; led last; drvn out, won at Pentreclwydau 3m ptp gd in May beating Balearic Star (12-8) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Oamaru Stone (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, under pressure approaching 12th, chased leaders 5 out, went 2nd 2 out, never troubled winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Ethiopia (10-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gf in May.
Ethiopia 15-2 (9-13) Led until 6th, ridden after 9th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 13, 33l behind Lyster (9-11) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Lord Brunello (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent, reminders 4th, mistake 13th, blundered next, stayed on to take 4th last, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 16l behind Lucky Luk (11-2) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Local Present (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, chased winner from 2 out, soon driven, over 1 length down last, kept on under pressure flat, always held, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Orion Star (9-7) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
