mid-division, not much room when mistake 7th, soon pushed along, not fluent next, effort approaching 2 out, soon no impression
with leader, led 5th, jumped right and headed 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 7th, not much room next, went 3rd approaching 2 out, one pace, not fluent last
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 7th, soon behind, tailed off
held up well in rear, jumped rigth, headway approaching 2 out where not fluent and rider lost irons, edged right and stayed on flat
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, led 7th, jumped right 3 out, clear before next, easily
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway when not much room 8th, close up when bumped 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
led until 5th, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off
It should always be noted when Tony McCoy rides for Rebecca Curtis so Court Red Handed is automatically on the shortlist especially after a promising hurdles debut. That run, 214 days ago, was the last time we saw the gelding so fitness will have to be taken on trust. With that in mind preference is for CORSO PALLADIO after Peter Bowen's charge returned from over 600 days out to only narrowly be denied. He is up in the weights for that run but now that bit fitter he can go close. Coeur Brule has improved in two runs this term and if progressing again in first time blinkers might be a danger but Corso Palladio looks the percentage call.
Court Red Handed (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up, outpaced 4 out, every chance 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 5l behind Lord Crewe (10-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Bon Spiel 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, one pace in modest 3rd and no impression 3 out, tailed off, 3rd of 9, 46l behind Calon Crwbin (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Cubism 9-2 (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 8, 16l behind Battle Group (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Ashmolian (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) In rear, reminder approaching 8th, headway approaching 4 out, weakened after next, last of 6, 23l behind Extreme Conviction (11-12) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jul.
Sieglinde (FR) 28-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, soon tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 8, 20l behind Call At Midnight (10-7) at Stratford 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Rate Field (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, jumped badly right 1st and 2nd, good headway when hampered approaching 9th, not fluent and rider lost irons 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 29l behind Changing Lanes (11-10) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Corso Palladio (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, tracked winner before 7th, closed last, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Fealing Real (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Jun.
Coeur Brule (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Reluctant to race and reminders, took keen hold towards rear, headway and hung right 7th, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden and hung right after 2 out, went left and mistake last, one pace, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Shergill (9-10) at Worcester 3m am hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Jul.
General Simara 33-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 12l behind Cape Secret (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gd in Jul.