veered left start, not always fluent, soon led, clear from 2nd, hard pressed from 3 out, driven out run in
in touch, chased leaders 5th, chased winner approaching 3 out, one pace and lost 2nd run in
prominent, chased winner 4th, to approaching 3 out, kept on under pressure to regain 2nd run in
chased winner to 4th, weakened quickly next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, mistake 2nd, stayed on from 3 out but never able to challenge
in touch, mistake 4th, behind from 6th tailed off
always behind, mistake 2nd tailed off
close up, behind from 6th, tailed off
in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4th, weakened before 3 out
not jump well, mistake 2nd and 5th always behind, tailed off
in touch, effort to chase leaders approaching 3 out, one pace from neck
slowly away, in rear, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out
always behind, tailed off
Control Man, Copsale Lad, Holland Park and Dusty Bandit are the principles and the confident vote goes to Copsale Lad. The 7-year-old from the Nicky Henderson yard is held in very high regard and won well on his seasonal debut at Exeter when defeating Alexander The Great. That form has since been franked by the second and he is given the confident vote to win here before heading for the Cheltenham festival. Control Man rates the main danger and he was a fair fourth in a grade one event behind Cornish Rebel last time, and he gave the impression a drop in trip would suit. Holland Park is another that could go well as he was a game winner last time when defeating Hawk's Landing, but this looks more competitive and he will need to improve again to score. Dusty Bandit is a 5-year-old from a top yard who is held in high regard and he is worth noting in the market, but he may come on for this his debut run, so the confident vote goes to Copsale Lad.
