led, not fluent 15th, ridden approaching last, headed soon after, kept on one pace
close up in 4th, reminders 14th, pushed along 4 out, outpaced next
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, not fluent 3 out, led soon after last, readily
Christian Williams may hold the key to this. He saddles Joey Steel, a winner at Fakenham in May before a second over this longer trip at Fontwell, and CAGE OF FEAR. The latter is having just his third run for the yard and won off an 8lb higher mark at Perth around this time last year so might be the value with Jack Tudor taking off a handy 3lb. Fact Of The Matter hasn’t won over conventional fences in more than four years and Black Anthem still looks high enough in the weights.
Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Led, headed 4 out, kept on same pace soon after, 3rd of 5, 15 1/4l behind Delight Of Dubai (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Black Anthem (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led 3rd until 3 out, weakened next, last of 5, 26 1/4l behind Damut I'm Out (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Cage Of Fear (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Prominent, pressed leader 13th, hit 4 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Wishfull Dreaming (11-4) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Joey Steel (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Held up in rear, headway and tracked leader 2 out, pushed along and made challenge last, slightly short of room and switched out from far rail run-in, no match for winner closing stages, 2nd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Ballintara (10-10) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
