in touch, headway half way, led 11, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on
mid-division, hit 11, soon pushed along, outpaced 5 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
towards rear, weakened halfway
close up, headway to challenge 4 out, led last, ridden out
pulled up, held up towards rear, headway 11th, outpaced 5 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
tracked leaders, pushed along 5 out, ridden 4 out, weakened after next
mid-division, headway 10th to track leaders, pushed along 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon one pace
pulled up, towards rear, weakened half way, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
towards rear, mistake 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4th
led, headed 11th, weakened next, soon tailed off
Guilsborough Gorse, Reflective Way and The Merry Mason are three against the field in a wide-open affair and the tentative vote goes to Guilsborough Gorse. The gelding from the Tim Walford yard has been point-to-pointing of late but has won his last two races in good style, and despite top weight, is taken to score again with conditions to suit. Reflective Way rates the main danger on his latest second behind Briar Rose but that was on much softer ground and for that reason he is opposed. The Merry Mason is well in on his best form but his strength is his stamina so this course is not sure to suit. Of the remainder, Middleway has been hurdling of late but he could go well if his jumping holds up. However, in a race full of imponderables we will side with Guilsborough Gorse.