kn, led 2nd to next, trkd ldr until wknd after 3 out
kn hold i.t, mistake 2nd and 4th, wknd bf 3 out, tailed off and p.u bf next
hld up, hdw to chs ldrs 3 out, u.p wh mistake next and last, wknd flat
raced wide, led to after 2nd, styd cl up until wknd after 3 out
started slowly, hld up in rr, rdn and kon from after 3 out, no dang
pulled hard, led 3rd to 6th, wknd 3 out, tailed off wh virtually p.u flat
cl up to 6th, mistake 3 out, tailed off and p.u bf next
hld up, no ch from 3 out
raced wide, hld up, steady hdw from 6th, bad mistake 3 out, not fluent next, led last, r.o wl flat
Taunton winner Aquarius sets the benchmark for recent form although he failed to follow up under a penalty (although the sixth from that race has won since). Prince Albert is well up to winning a race of this nature but might find one or two too good. Wuxi Venture is far and away the clear pick on form and, having run well on his return at Leicester after a long layoff 16 days ago, has to be the TEAMtalk selection. A ten-furlong Windsor winner in 2001, Lady Jeannie, was only moderate overall on the Flat. Dual German winner Wellington Hall has failed to transfer his ability to British form. No Mercy has won three times on the AW, the last being 12 months ago. Henrietta Knight runs Noble Deed but he has shown little so far. Mundo Raro has modest form, and Lucky Lucky Bob's form isn't even that good. Faraway John won on the Flat over 11 furlongs at Windsor in April 2001 but his form then tailed off. Eight flights of hurdles might rekindle his zest, but they would need to.
