held up behind, ridden and headway to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened after next
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
driven along in touch, weakened after 7th, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders until 7th, soon ridden, weakened
prominent, lead approaching 7th, jumped left from next, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on
in touch when pulled up after 4th
held up towards rear, driven and headway approaching 7th, hard ridden to lead after 2 out, stayed on strongly
led until 7th, soon ridden, weakened, pulled up before 2 out
Masters of War can make the most of fitness and the weight concession from the likes of Barcelona, Samsaam and Dr Charlie. Jonjo O'Neill won this last year with Wagner, and in Masters of War he has a leading candidate in his quest to keep the prize. The seven-year-old could be ahead of the handicapper here judged on his effort at Warwick under McCoy last month when he showed that stamina will be his forte. He has been tried over a trip before but the champion seemed to find the key to him and a small rise in the weights may not be enough to stop him. He was tried over fences when coming over from Ireland and will probably go that route again in the future, but for the time being, with fitness on his side, he can pay to follow over the smaller obstacles. McCoy knows all about Barcelona as well, as he was on board for the gelding's biggest payday at Ascot two years ago, but Gary Moore's charge has paid the penalty since then and in addition has an absence to overcome here. So does Samsaam, but he has gone well fresh in the past and is sure to have been well prepared by Martin Pipe. Dr Charlie is not badly weighted and makes some appeal for place purposes, but Imtihan has gone up the handicap for his useful efforts in the spring. All in all it appears that Masters of War has plenty going for him and so rates the pick.
