led, tended to jump left, mistake 4th, headed approaching 7th, mistake 10th, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, came to stands side after next, driven out
took keen hold, held up in last pair, not fluent 8th, mistake and lost touch next, tailed off
held up in last pair, took keen hold, jumped slowly 1st, mistake 6th, headway after 4 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, hung left flat, no impression towards finish
tracked leaders, mistake 9th, ridden after next, blundered 4 out, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, not fluent 6th, went 2nd 3 out until approaching next, weakened before next
There are question marks against all of these and BERTENBAR is no more than a token selection. His stable has yet to hit form but he did start favourite on his reappearance at Market Rasen, only to finish well beaten. Presumably he is capable of better and his rivals have been equally disappointing lately. Grand Article has had 19 starts under Rules but is still chasing a first win, though tackles fences for the first time today, while Road Train Bob only beat one home at Lingfield earlier this month. The others have very little to recommend them.
Road Train Bob (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Pulled hard tracking leaders, outpaced 5 out, headway 2 out, kept on under pressure, never able to challenge, 3rd of 4, 14l behind Goring One (11-10) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Bertenbar 4-1fav (11-12) In touch, blundered 10th, weakened after next, 7th of 10, 50l behind Jacko's Boy (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Hopeand 66-1 (10-10) Led until 5th, led after 3 out, soon headed, weakened last, 4th of 5, 23l behind Milgen Bay (11-2) at Towcester 2m mdn chs (5) gd.
Grand Article (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Hdwy to ld 12; drew clr 3 out; v easy, won at Kimble 3m ptp gf in Apr beating Mister Cee Jay (12-0) by 4l, 3 ran.
Grand Fella (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Behind and well off the pace, poor 6th 2 out, stayed on from last, went modest 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 9, 31l behind Alpha Way (10-7) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Jolibob (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, left close 2nd 6th, reminder after next, 3rd and outpaced before 3 out, chased winner last, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Zhukov (10-10) at Southwell 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May.
