made all, kept on well flat
tracked winner, hit 4th, kept on from last, lost 2nd place last 50 yards
tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 8th, hit 4 out, headway 3 out, kept on to chase winner last 50 yards, always held
in rear, outpaced from 8th, headway 3 out, weakened from next
Only four runners go to post for the next race but all four have genuine chances of claiming this prize. That been said a tentative nod goes the way of DUKE OF MALFI ahead of Carrietau. Lucinda Russell's horse has been in decent form of late having won his second last start by a wide margin. His latest effort was a bit uninspiring but the step up in trip was never going to suit the speedy bred son of Alflora. Today's drop in trip will suit and his front running style could string these out. A little bit of rain may be needed but showers are forecast. Carrietau will have to lump top weight around but he has carried similar weights to success on softer ground. He was also pulled up on his latest start but the drop in trip is sure to suit this horse also. Jim Tango and Well Oiled need market checks but Duke Of Malfi gets the nod in the hope a little bit of rain arrives.
Carrietau 11-1 (10-12) Led to 9th, lost place after next, pulled up after 5 out, in a race won by Nedzer's Return (11-9) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) sft in Apr, 8 ran.
Jim Tango (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Tended to jump left, led, headed after 9th, ridden and lost place approaching 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Storm Surge (10-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Duke of Malfi 15-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 2 out, ridden and weakened last, 10th of 15, 37l behind Baltic Pathfinder (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Well Oiled (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, effort 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bob's Dream (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
