held up in rear, jumped left 7th, headway 9th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened (wore cheek pieces)
held up in touch, headway 10th, ridden after 3 out, with leader when blundered badly 2 out, hard ridden flat, ran on to lead last strides
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakening when hampered next
always towards rear, ridden after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
prominent, led 3 out, ridden next, headed and no extra last strides
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened next
in touch, ridden 9th, weakening when mistake 3 out
always towards rear, ridden 10th, weakened approaching 3 out
Joyce Bel has shown a fair level of form in better company over fences of late but may not be entirely suited by the drop in trip and looks poor value at the likely prohibitive odds under top weight. The TEAMtalk percentage call goes to Keaneo who shaped well enough last time to suggest that a race of this nature is within his compass. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding stays this trip and will be sharper for his latest start following a six-month break. Slewmore's Irish form seemed in decline latterly and this veteran is best watched on his return from a spell on the sidelines.