tracked winner and pulled hard, 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 4th
led, blundered 2nd, blundered badly and headed 6th, led again approaching 2 out, clear when blundered last, ridden out flat
tracked winner, close up 3rd when fell 7th
held up and behind, headway going well 2 out, soon ridden, one pace flat
in rear, blundered 3rd, slightly hampered 7th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in touch, led after 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
badly hampered 7th, well behind soon after, tailed off
Five of the seven runners who contest this Grade 2 race were winners last time out and it promises to be a hotly fought affair. Calling Brave has always been highly rated by Nicky Henderson since winning an Aintree bumper on his racecourse debut. He had the misfortune to come up against Rhinestone Cowboy subsequently at Ascot but did well to finish second. Eighth in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper, he made a winning start over hurdles at Kempton recently and is obviously a classy sort. He was set to go chasing but the fact that he is being kept over timber for the time being suggests that connections still expect him to pick up another race or two in that sphere. Whether it is on Friday remains to be seen however, as he faces some tough opponents. Coolnagorna was useful in Ireland and opened his account with the minimum of fuss at Chepstow- he is on the short-list along with Master George who chased home Galileo at Kempton last February. Domenico comes into the reckoning on his recent victory at Uttoxeter and will appreciate the step up in trip, and Thisthatandtother, a facile winner of both his starts this term is reckoned to be up to the task by his astute trainer. He was fourth in the Cheltenham Bumper after scoring at Wincanton, and has hardly broken sweat on two return visits. Barry Geraghty has been booked to ride and the fact that he was ahead of Calling Brave at Cheltenham sways TEAMtalk in favour of the Paul Nicholls runner who is much better value than Coolnagorna.
