towards rear, never dangerous
held up in touch, pushed along approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened after next
towards rear, headway 6th, not fluent 8th, soon ridden and beaten
tracked leader, led 5th, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on same pace
towards rear, headway 9th to chase leaders, ridden and effort 2 out, one pace under pressure
tracked leaders, challenged 9th, every chance 4 out, ridden and no extra from 2 out
pulled hard, led and jumped right, headed 5th, weakened quickly after next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 8th, weakening when blundered 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 7th and in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace flat
held up in touch, headway 6th, led approaching last, stayed on strongly
towards rear, reminder 3rd, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
Garde Bien, Gaucho and Teme Valley are three against the field in this beginners' chase with the nomination going to Garde Bien. The selection was a fair fourth behind Venn Ottery a couple of runs ago and was still in with a chance until falling behind Mccracken at Doncaster last time. If his confidence has not affected he could go well at a fair price. Gaucho would have a chance on his second behind Edmo Heights a couple of runs ago but he has since disappointed on faster ground and for that reason he is passed over. Teme Valley won a handicap hurdle in good style last time when defeating Untidy Daughter. If he can reproduce that form on his first attempt over the larger obstacles he will not be far away, but his stable has not been in the best of form of late so he looks worth opposing. Romil Star is another with place claims but in a race where stakes should be kept to a minimum we will side with Garde Bien.
