led to 3rd, stayed prominent, led again 8th, headed and mistake 4 out, weakened after next
held up in rear, headway 8th, went 2nd 3 out ridden, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, headway approaching 8th, led 9th, clear approaching last, eased towards finish
took keen hold, chased leader, led 3rd, soon clear, hit 7th, headed next, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 7th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden after 9th, weakened after next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 9th, soon weakened
took keen hold, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
An awful race here and Koumba may be good enough to shrug off his fall last time and take it, with Teorban and Jumpty Dumpty put up as tentative alternatives. The selection comes from the in-form Evan Williams yard and put up a decent display after a 15 month absence when leading for most of the way at Hereford last time. Unfortunately he came a cropper at the last just after being headed that day, and he is out for compensation here. The drop back in trip should not be much of a problem and provided he can successfully negotiate the obstacles then he looks the one to be on. Teorban looks the most serious challenger. Rated 56 on the level, he stays at least two miles in that sphere, so if anything this trip may be on the short side for him. Nevertheless he is guaranteed to see it out here, but he has never won on ground worse than good, and the cut may find him out again. Of the others, Jumpty Dumpty will at least handle the ground but he is bang out of form at present and cannot be taken seriously as a win proposition, so we take Koumba to atone for his recent mishap and score.
