held up last, good headway to track leader 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 4th and well beaten when blundered last
held up, not fluent 3rd, smooth headway from 4 out, tracked leader going well after next, upside 2 out, driven soon after last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, readily outpaced before 2 out
led, hit 9th, ridden and joined 2 out, mistake and headed soon after last, no extra flat
tracked leader, jumped right 2nd, lost 2nd and weakened 4 out, well beaten when mistake next
held up in touch, challenged from 7th, weakened before 4 out
ran in snatches, close up, ridden after 7th, weakened before 3 out
mistake and jumped left, well behind and struggling 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
Reflected Glory looks to have major claims here and gets the call over Theatre, Versus and Garryvoe. The selection has looked fairly decent based on his last two runs, most notably when second to Loup Charter at Windsor last time, the form of that race having worked out. For us, he looks the one to beat. Theatre has been quite highly tried of late and should be seen in a better light at this type of level, while Garryvoe has done well in his two chases under Rules so far, so it has to be respected the fact that connections have decided to try him over hurdles now. Versus won over the extended two-and-three-quarter miles at Folkestone the time before last and ran well enough behind a well-regarded runner of Venetia Williams last time to have to be considered at this modest level. Also, if you take literal Whist Drive form, Reflected Glory has five lengths to find on Versus in order to score today. Finally, much as Geography has a win to his name, that was in selling company and, overall, this is tougher. Once again, then, the vote goes to Reflected Glory, even though it contradicts that Whist Drive form.
