made all, ridden after 3 out, edged left before 2 out, stayed on well
2nd or 3rd, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 2 out, edged right before last, no impression flat
jumped left and not that fluent, soon lost touch, pulled up before 7th
2nd or 3rd, not fluent 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra before last
FRENCH CRUSADER needs to brush up his jumping but the Towcester winner gets the nod ahead of fellow penalised runner Earlshill, though the latter’s victory at Warwick was franked when runner-up Subcontinent won easily at Perth last week. Helmsley Lad and Born A Saint are likely to competing for minor honours.
Earlshill (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, led 2 out, mistake last, driven and ran on flat, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Apr beating Subcontinent (11-2) by 2l, 18 ran.
French Crusader (FR) 4-7fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, pecked on landing and well recovered next, ran on, won at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gd in May beating Dandolo Du Gite (11-2) by 6l, 7 ran.
Born A Saint 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, reminders after 5th, blundered badly 3 out, tailed off, pulled up, at Catterick 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Helmsley Lad 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 36 3/4l behind Castafiore (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
