tracked winner, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened from next
in rear, jumped left throughout, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
hit 4th, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened from 2 out
hit 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up and keen, tracked leaders after 3rd, mistake next, went 2nd 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
made all, ridden approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily
The defection of Crazy Horse means that only his stablemate Mirjan lines up in the handicap proper. Even so it is asking a lot of him to win this after a 216 day absence. With the weights rising 22lbs, it does at least mean that most will actually race off their correct mark, including Martin Pipe's Jurancon II, who misses a penalty for an easy success at Cheltenham last week. The David Johnson-owned five-year-old gets over a stone from stablemate Miss Fara, winner of the Tote Cesarewitch at Newmarket, but without a run over hurdles for 253 days. As such TEAMtalk fancy Jurancon II, but expect a good run from A Few Bob Back, who has been in great form since recovering from an injured cannon bone, and might just be a bit ahead of the handicapper. However, we cannot desert Jurancon II, who can take this before eventually going over fences.