made all, jumped big 2nd, clear approaching 3rd, ridden after 2 out, comfortable
tracked winner, jumped big first, effort and closed up 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out and hung left, no further impression
The three to focus on here would seem to be Master Rex, Duke Of Buckingham and Bonus Bridge, with our vote going to Master Rex. The selection come here on a high following an easy win at Leicester in what was, admittedly, a softer race. It will be interesting to see how this one-time fair hurdler goes in this company. Bonus Bridge has already won three novice chases and his form is rock-solid, so he is entitled to go well here. A similar comment applies to Duke Of Buckingham, who has won his last three races in good style, although he would probably not like the going to have too much juice in it. On literal formlines with Puntal the pair are fairly closely matched, and the selection was only just over five lengths behind Bonus Bridge at Ascot when he was returning from a lay-off, so he is entitled to have come on for that run. Kalca Mome has so far been put in his place when stepped up in class and the other pair need to improve a bit on what we have so far seen to feature here. For the selection, then, we return to Master Rex.
