behind, mistake 5th, no chance when mistake 2 out
took keen hold and held up behind leaders, headway on inner approaching 2 out, led approaching last when not fluent, stayed on well flat
took keen hold, prominent, not much room and lost place bend before 3 out, stayed on flat, not reach leaders
took keen hold, always prominent, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace flat
prominent, mistake 4th, hard ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, every chance 2 out, kept on one pace approaching last
led until headed and weakened quickly approaching 2 out
Golden Rod is fancied to recoup recent losses at the expense of Lord Fernando in what looks a two-horse race on paper. Kim Bailey's inmate was sent off a warm order over fences at Huntingdon but failed to justify the support thanks to some uninspiring leaps. A winner on the Flat for Peter Harris, he will be much more at home over the smaller obstacles and gets a good chance to redeem himself here. With the rest appearing to be nothing special, Lord Fernando is the stumbling block. However, Toby Balding's four-year-old has an absence to overcome, having been off the track since finishing fourth at Ludlow in March. A winner at Huntingdon the time before, he can give the selection most to do, but in the belief that fitness will count, Golden Rod is the pick.
