led, driven when challenged 4 out, fell 2 out
chased leaders, hampered 2nd and 5th, slow 7th, under pressure 14th, soon weakened, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up after next
tracked leader, mistake 2nd, blundered 13th, driven to challenge 4 out, left in lead 2 out, comfortably
chased leaders, jumped right 5th, effort when left in 2nd 2 out, no extra closing stages
Red Giant is the most experienced of these and held every chance when the victim of pilot error over a marathon trip last time at Sedgefield. He’d finished ahead of Lofgren previously at Warwick. I Just Know ran in the Grand National in April and had a pipe-opener over hurdles recently. DANDY MAN got off the mark over fences at Bangor earlier this month and is likely to progress further now he’s got his head in front.
I Just Know (IRE) Evensjfav (10-12) Led, driven approaching 3 out, soon hard pressed, headed narrowly between last 2, kept on same pace, held flat, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Kapgarry (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Lofgren 9-4 (11-7) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, led 10th, ridden after 2 out, drew clear flat, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Mill Quest (11-2) by 6l, 4 ran.
Dandy Dan (IRE) 11-8fav (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, 2 lengths up 2 out, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m (4) gd in Oct beating Molly Childers (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Red Giant (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway to join leaders 9th, led before next, headed 11th, led again 16th, rider mistakenly thought 2 out was omitted and horse ran out, at Sedgefield 3m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
