tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, mistake 9th, effort 3 out, led 2 out, hard ridden flat, all out near finish
held up in rear and well off the pace, mistake 8th, taken very wide and stumbled approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on well flat
tracked leader, led 3 out, headed 2 out, still pressing leaders when hit last, stayed on same pace flat
led, mistake 11th and 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened and blundered 2 out, eased before last
raced in 4th place, steady headway from 4 out, challenged from 2 out, every chance last, chased winner flat, unable to quicken near finish
not fluent and tended to jump left, always in rear, driven and lost touch from 11th, tailed off when blundered 13th
The Philip Hobbs-trained Mounsey Castle had been running consistently well this term until disappointing at Warwick when last seen in December and, while the break since may have helped, the drop back in distance may not and preference is for Burundi, who gets the verdict over Full On. The last mentioned showed improved form on his most recent start, which was only his second over fences, and is entitled to improve again on that evidence. Stocks 'n Shares seems plenty high enough in the weights at present, while Elgar would want a softer surface and Father Abraham is out of form. The vote then goes to Burundi. Tony Carroll's gelding has ground conditions to suit and comes here in good order having stayed on well to claim second place (beaten a length-and-a-half) behind Black Frost at Haydock last month. The stiff uphill finish should suit the son of Danehill, who looks the one to be on.
