in touch mistake 3rd, pushed along and lost place 12th, hit next, soon tailed off
led to 4th, led 10th to 13th, left in lead 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on strongly
in touch, pushed along 12th, left 3rd 4 out, ridden to chase winner before next, kept on
led 4th to 10th, led 13th, 2 lengths up when fell 4 out
held up in touch, dropped rear 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
in touch, headway 8th to track leaders, left second briefly 4 out, outpaced next
held up in rear, hit 3rd, headway 12th, pushed along disputing 4th when fell 5 out
This race doesn’t seem to throw up many Cheltenham Festival clues nowadays but it’s still a Grade 1 contest worth winning. Elegant Escape just touched off the tough Black Corton in a Grade 2 at Newbury but is 3lb worse off and needs to reverse earlier form with Ballyoptic and MIA’S STORM. Black Corton beat Ballyoptic at Cheltenham last month but may struggle to give 7lb to Alan King’s talented mare, who was impressive again last time at Market Rasen when she jumped well and was always travelling best. Fountains Windfall fell behind Elegant Escape at Newbury but still held every chance at the time and shouldn’t be written off. Some Invitation has scope but will need to up his game and West Approach looks held on the form book.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Led, blundered 10th, joined after 4 out, headed before 2 out, ridden between last 2, 1 length down when blundered last, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 3, 4l behind Black Corton (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (2) sft in Nov.
Black Corton (FR) 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, left in 2nd place 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, kept on run-in, always held, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Elegant Escape (11-2) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Dec.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Led until 8th (water), with leader, led again 10th, joined 3 out and again last, driven and stayed on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Dec beating Black Corton (11-5) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Fountains Windfall 7-4fav (11-2) Tracked winner, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, led 8th (water) until 10th, pressed winner, every chance when knuckled on landing and fell 3 out, at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Dec.
Some Invitation (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Tracked clear leader, led before 4 out, hard pressed and joined when mistake 2 out, left clear, won at Wetherby 3m (4) gs in Nov beating Work Du Breteau (11-11) by dist, 3 ran.
West Approach 15-8 (11-5) Tracked leader, led in back straight, clear 3 out, went left 2 out, hung right before jumping left last, hung left flat, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f (2) sft in Dec beating Report To Base (11-0) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Mia's Storm (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) In touch, headway 8th, chased leader 4 out, led 2 out, ran on, comfortable, won at Market Rasen 3m lst (1) gs in Nov beating Antartica De Thaix (11-4) by 13l, 6 ran.
