raced keenly, led, jumped slowly, headed 7th, regained narrow lead next, headed 2 out, soon ridden, switched right flat, one pace, edged right
held up, not fluent 4th or 5th, soon lost touch
jumped left, chased leader, led 7th, headed next, still every chance when blundered 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up in 3rd, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, ridden out
SOIXANTE is the selection in this contest with Hope Road the most likely to present most problems. The Towcester executive will doubtless be disappointed with the turnout for the opener but Henrietta Knight's charge has campaigned in decent grade in the past and provided that he can exhibit his form on good, as well as a softer, surface, the official BHA rating suggests that he will prove hard to beat. Hope Road is a plausible front runner. A small field is still something of an imponderable though trip and ground are not. Man From Highworth is better known in hunter chases and over significantly further than a bare two miles. Converti has been seen at plating levels on the flat and over hurdles so realistically has plenty to do even in such a numerically weak affair. Soixante is the selection.
Soixante (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Led until mistake 9th, headed briefly, headed again 11th, ridden 3 out, rallied 2 out, took 2nd again flat, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Tarotino (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Converti 7-2 (11-7) Held up; went 2nd 13; wknd 15, 3rd of 5, 28l behind Gunship (12-7) at Larkhill 3m ptp in Mar.
Hope Road 7-2 (11-1) Led until approaching 4 out, soon ridden, held when left 2nd last, no extra and lost 2nd soon after, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Massini Sunset (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Man From Highworth 33-1 (12-0) Always behind, 19th of 29, well behind Trust Fund (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gd.
