close up until outpaced approaching 2 out
chased leader to after 2nd, ridden and weakened after 3 out
always in rear, tailed off
tracked leader after 2nd, not fluent 4th, challenged on bit approaching 2 out, led between last 2, drew clear flat
not fluent, close up, hit 4th and next, outpaced by leading pair before 2 out, no chance when mistake last
A disappointing turn out for this valuable prize and it looks to boil down to a match between last years winner Copeland and the progressive Santenay, who gets the vote. Paul Nicholls' five-year-old has been lightly raced this term, having taken in only three races before going to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle, his main target. However, while he failed to cut much ice at Prestbury Park, he gets the chance to atone here and pick up a nice consolation prize. Copeland hasn't looked the same horse this season as the one who proved so game when seeing off Intersky Falcon in this contest last year. However, there were signs at Aintree behind Sacundi, that he may be returning to something like his best, and if he can build on that effort, he will not go down without a fight.
