led 1st, soon headed, tracked leader, led 4 out, drew clear approaching 2 out, easily
tracked leaders, mistake and unseated rider 4th
led until 1st, soon led again, not fluent and headed 4 out, soon broke leg and pulled up
raced in last, pecked 1st, not fluent 3rd, ridden 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, jumped slowy 4th, hit 6th, weakened approaching 2 out where mistake
many mistakes, raced in 3rd from 4th, left chasing winner after 4 out, no impression before 2 out
A relatively small field but great to see some of the old boys in action and all six arrive with claims. Pick of them looks to be ITS CRUCIAL, who ran well in a more competitive race at Aintree on his return. Representing the connections he does it's debateable how much improvement he'll derive from that run but even a repeat would be close to good enough, while the fact he jumped out to his right means that going this way around should suit. He's taken to get the better of Alderburn, for whom this trip is on the sharp side. Henry Daly's charge has not had that much racing for one of his age and should get competitive along with Ellerslie George, who takes a marked drop in grade but again would be better were this over three miles or more. Mister McGoldrick's Wetherby third was fine but it's important to remember he runs his best races there while Knight Legend is probably weighted to the hilt, a comment which doesn't apply to the well-treated but fragile Il Duce.
Mister McGoldrick 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, led before 8th, clear 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Neptune Equester (10-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Alderburn 17-2 (11-3) In touch, led after 2nd to 5th, tracked leaders, went 2nd, after 15th, led 2 out, ridden and headed soon after last, rallied flat, regained lead towards finish, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct beating Magic Sky (10-9) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Ellerslie George (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Led, clear 5th, reduced lead and went right 17th, headed 4 out, chased leader until approaching 3 out, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 14, 23l behind Meanus Dandy (9-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd.
Il Duce (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Never reached beyond mid-division, ridden before 12th, weakening when mistake 4 out, 8th of 17, 29l behind Edgbriar (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Knight Legend (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped left, hit 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, 3rd when mistake 2 out, plugged on approaching last, almost got 2nd, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Sunday City (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Its Crucial (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led to 2nd, jumped right early, tracked leader, led again 8th, blundered 10th, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Just Smudge (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
