tracked leader, led 8th, headed 2 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 8th, joined leader 10th, led and hit 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well
held up rear, hit 6th, ridden and no impression when hit 4 out, weakening when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
held up in touch, headway 9th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
led, headed approaching 8th, soon weakened, behind and pulled up before 3 out
held up rear, headway 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
behind, blundered 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 8th
in touch, lost place 6th, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat
held up, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
A competitive handicap chase with plenty of the nine runner field having claims. Trainer Ian Balding has given topweight Logician a break since third to Thomas Pink disappointment Chicuelo at Market Rasen in July and, if fit enough for his first outing since, the New Zealand-bred gelding would have to be respected. Martin Pipe's Tango Royal has yet to win a race in this country but travelled well for a long way before falling at Cheltenham last time and now that he races off his proper mark could go close. The Paul Nicholls-trained Ivanoph looked a lucky winner at Wincanton last week when taking advantage of a bad mistake by eventual runner-up Soeur Fontenail, while Avanti Express has been raised another 5lbs for his latest success at Stratford. Emma Lavelle's gelding will find this company tougher. A similar comment applies to Norman Mason's Xaipete who has been finding at least one too good in lesser company this term and the TEAMtalk selection is Bleu Superbe. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding, a winner at Aintree and Towcester in May, has been pulled up on his last two starts. However, on the latter occasion it was due to the saddle slipping and, having been in the process of putting in a good round prior to that, the seven-year-old has solid claims back over his optimum trip.
