held up in rear, tailed off from 5th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division and keen, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, led after 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out and stumbled 2 out, kept on from last no chance with winner
always towards rear, tailed off from 3 out
held up, effort 3 out, weakened from next
led, headed after 3rd, ridden and weakened from 3 out
Another contest lacking strength in depth with Ela Re setting the standard, but he won't find life easy under his penalty and the one to be with is Mark Pitman's Mister Lord gelding, Lord Perseus. The winner of a bumper at Huntingdon back in April, he wasn't disgraced under his penalty when beaten by a well-regarded animal from Ferdy Murphy's yard on his next outing. He is the sort to do better now he goes jumping and may prove good enough on this debut over timber. Ela Re has yet to finish out of the frame here in three outings and with Tony Dobbin on board is worthy of plenty of respect. I doubt if Johnny Reb's breeders had hurdling in mind for the five-year-old, as his mother is closely related to 2000 Guineas winner Zafonic. A winner at up to a mile on the flat, there must be some doubt about him getting the trip over hurdles.