towards rear, mistake 1st, reminder 3rd, behind from halfway
tracked leaders, 4th and in touch when hit 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, brief effort 2 out, no extra approaching last
made all, soon clear, hit 4 out, ridden out towards finish
in touch, mistake 2nd, ridden to chase winner 2 out, no impression on winner flat
Banningham Blaze has shown enough in two starts over hurdles to suggest that he can win a race of this nature and is taken to open his account at the main expense of Lagosta and Creed. The selection stepped up on a debut fourth behind Hilltime at Stratford last month when finding just the potentially useful Web Perceptions too good at Huntingdon last week, staying on well to regain second close home. Admittedly the winner there was value for more than the eight-length winning margin but, in the context of this race, that was still a decent effort by the runner-up. Lagosta showed his first worthwhile form when second to Barneys Lyric at Perth last time and rates a bigger danger than Creed, who was well held on his recent debut. The newcomers make limited appeal with Prince Ajdal, a 51-rated miler, probably the pick of them so we are happy to side with Banningham Blaze, who gets the verdict.