led to 13th, ridden approaching 16th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, ridden and lost place 14th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leader, led 13th, ridden and headed approaching 16th, rallied behind winner and took closer order 3 out, held when stumbled last
held up last, ridden 16th, lost touch 4 out
prominent, headway to lead approaching 16th, ridden after 4 out, in command when hit last, driven out flat
held up towards rear, ridden 16th, soon lost touch
Tanterari has plenty in his favour here and gets the nod ahead of Music To My Ears and Sungates. The David Pipe-trained selection has been given a long break since slightly disappointing at Sandown in December. He generaly handles cut very well, has little in strength in opposition here and his fitness can be taken on trust, so we will side with him. Music To My Ears is another proven soft ground performer and he does not know how to run a bad race. Freshened up with a bit of a break himself, he should go well but just looks to have bit too much to shoulder in weight. Sungates looks best of the rest and also handles softer ground, so can't be discounted from the still-in-form yard of Evan Williams, but we prefer Tanterari to land this.
Tanterari (IRE) 3-1 (10-0) Held up last, mistake 13th, chased leading pair, ridden after 4 out, rider pulled up before 2 out, continued and walked over finish line, 3rd of 5, well behind Willie John Daly (11-0) at Sandown 3m 5f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Dec.
Music To My Ears (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-11) Prominent, hit 4th, driven and outpaced after 11th, challenged for remote 2nd from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Barren Lands (10-9) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Sungates (IRE) 10-11fav (11-9) Held up, hit 5th, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Caribbean Cove (10-13) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Leopold (SLO) 5-1jt-fav (11-3) Mid-division, headway after 9th, ridden after 13th, weakening when slightly hampered 2 out, 5th of 9, 24l behind Francines-Boy (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jul.
He's The Biz (FR) 3-1jt-fav (10-12) Held up, slipped on bend approaching 10th, hit 12th, ridden 3 out, no impression, 7th of 11, 8l behind Cristophe (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Cristophe 3-1jt-fav (10-7) Held up, headway 13th, ridden after next, led flat, ran on, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Good Man Again (9-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
