took keen hold, held up in rear, lost touch before 3 out, pulled up before next
held up and well off the pace, well outpaced from after 4th, brief effort after 3 out, soon beaten
took keen hold, held up in 4th, effort 3 out, beaten when mistake 2 out
held up and well off the pace, smooth headway after 3 out, challenged and mistaken next, led approaching last, pushed clear
led and well clear 4th, came back to field after 3 out, ridden and mistake 2 out, headed and beaten approaching last
raced in 3rd and well off the pace, effort to chase winner briefly after 3 out, soon outpaced
mistake 1st, always in rear, driven and lost touch 5th, pulled up before 2 out
held up and well off the pace, struggling 3 out
chased clear leader, mistake 5th, weakened from next
held up in rear, struggling after 5th, tailed off
Cristoforo can make amends for a recent defeat ahead of Island Stream, Fortune Point, Castle River and Shaman. Cristoforo was disappointing on the Flat, but after a spell in Ireland, came back to land three races on the all-weather this time last year. However, it has not taken long for Barney Curley's charge to get the hang of things over timber, and he was strongly backed when scoring at Plumpton. Cristoforo then looked all over the winner at Cheltenham four days ago, but just failed to defy his penalty, as he was caught up the hill by Gone Too Far. That was a sterling effort and he must go close. Of his rivals, Shaman appears safely held on Plumpton form, while Island Stream, although quite experienced over timber, took until 12 days ago at Uttoxeter to open his account. A big horse, he might now start to pay his way. Fortune Point has been busy on the flat without success this summer but is capable of landing a contest like this over the next few weeks, while Castle River sometimes flatters to deceive during his races. So, for the winner we return to Cristoforo.
