mid-division, not fluent 4th, effort when not fluent 3 out, weakened approaching next, blundered last
led, ridden and headed approaching last where not fluent, edged left and stayed on flat, always being held
tracked leader, jumped left 1st, led approaching last, driven out
took keen hold, soon tracking leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
towards rear, behind 3rd, tailed off
tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, went 3rd before next, no impression last, eased flat
always in rear, behind 3rd, well tailed off 3 out, pulled up after
took keen hold in rear, behind 3rd, well tailed off 3 out, pulled up after
Peter Tchaikovsky has regressed on the flat of late and his debut over timber offered little, while John Wade's pair Glen Vale and Train Spotter make little appeal and our vote goes instead to RIO GAEL. The four-year-old is two from three since joining Peter Bowen and the sole defeat came when tried in handicap company, where he couldn't recover from an early mishap. Since then he's made all at Stratford and similarly positive tactics can ensure a repeat. Sadler's Star tries blinkers for the first-time and the switch in headgear could spark improvement, particularly as he's gone well in cheek-pieces, while the drop back in trip could also be seen as a positive and he rates the biggest threat. Bandanaman won a seller very easily when last tried over hurdles but he'll need to show more to land this, while an improved performance from The Magic Bishop wouldn't surprise as he may've found his last start coming too soon.
Sadler's Star (GER) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway to track leading pair 6th, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance until not fluent last, one pace flat, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Safe Catch (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Rio Gael (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Made all, ran on flat, driven out, won at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf beating Tara Warrior (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Bandanaman (IRE) 10-3 (10-9) Chased clear leader, not fluent 3 out, led approaching next, soon in command, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f sell hdl (4) gf in Jun beating Treeko (10-5) by 8l, 8 ran.
Galileo Figaro (AUS) 25-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, went close 2nd after 3rd until 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Russian George (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Glen Vale 100-1 (10-7) Held up in touch and keen, weakened over 5f out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Last Of The Bunch (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Oct, 15 ran.
The Magic Bishop 6-4fav (10-9) Led, not fluent 4th, headed after 4 out, soon no impression with winner, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened last, 7th of 13, well behind Kosta Brava (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in May.
Train Spotter (IRE) Anshan gelding out of Lotschberg Express.
Peter Tchaikovsky 25-1 (10-4) Not fluent 1st, took keen hold in rear, mistake 3rd, headway when not fluent 6th, close up after 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 8, 33l behind Zafar (11-12) at Southwell 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
