led, headed after 1st, led again after 4th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well
in touch, chased winner approaching 5th to approaching 2 out, weakened before last
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, soon tailed off
behind, headway 4th, weakened after next
prominent, led after 1st, headed after 4th, hung left 5th, weakened 3 out
always behind
chased leaders, ridden to go 2nd approaching 2 out, never troubled winner
mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
A chance is taken with Trickstep, who is still open to improvement over hurdles and is selected ahead of Garbor, who is respected but need to prove his fitness after 253 days away from the action. Rumbling Bridge is also dangerous to rule out, as he is still learning his trade and there may be more to come from him. Watch the market where he is concerned. Garbor shaped up well last term and has the edge over a few of these in terms of experience. However, there has to be the suspicion that he will just need the run today and he may be best watched. Therefore, we prefer to go with Trickstep, who got his season off to a flyer at Ludlow in May. The very firm ground may have been his undoing when he attempted a follow up at Sedgefield a fortnight later and that run is best forgotten. The easier conditions will be very much to his liking and Trickstep is fancied to bounce back here.
Blue Leader (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, 8th of 13, 44l behind Lutea (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gd.
Gabor 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, blundered and lost place 3rd, behind when fell 4 out in race won by Adjiram (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Trickstep 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 10, 22l behind He's Hot Right Now (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in May.
Cash 'n Carrots 7-2 (12-0) 5th of 10, 47l behind Itzacliche (11-7) at Kingston Blount 2m 5f ptp gf in May.
Luristan (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, 6th of 12, 40l behind Chase The Sunset (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (E) gf.
Makandy 40-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, hampered 5th, soon behind, 4th of 8, 20l behind Trickstep (10-8) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (G) gd in May.
Rumbling Bridge 20-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden approaching 8th, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 48l behind Water King (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Apr.
Magenta Rising (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division, pushed along approaching 4th, weakend from 5th, soon tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Wally Wonder (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
