held up towards rear, headway on inside when not much room 4 out, went 2nd before mistake 3 out, no impression, kept on
jumped left, chased winner until 4 out, soon beaten
not always fluent, held up in rear, headway when not much room 4 out, pressing for 3rd from next, no impression
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
made all, not fluent 7th, good jump to go clear 3 out, stayed on well
fell 1st
held up towards rear, headway 6th, not fluent 10th, not much room 4 out, 3rd and no impression from 3 out
Story Of Friends was a non-runner at Newton Abbot yesterday having won a hunters chase at the same track previously. DE BARLEY BASKET has won three of his five starts over fences and led most of the way to pick up a recent pot at Worcester. In similar form, he’ll be a tough nut to crack. Franz Klammer has reinvented himself as a Stratford specialist and has been well held in previous visits here. Rebel Leader returns off the back of a six month layoff whilst El Paso Wood was fourth in the Midlands National but has failed to finish in three subsequent outings.
El Paso Wood (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway from 14th, beaten when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Stratford 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Thomas Todd 7-2 (11-7) Led, not fluent 8th and 11th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened thereafter, pulled up before last, at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Story Of Friends (FR) 11-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, headway 11th, switched left and challenged 2 out, led last, held on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (6) gd in May beating Wotzizname (12-4) by nk, 8 ran.
Franz Klammer 5-2 (10-0) Led, hit 9th, not fluent 11th, pressed when mistake 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Rhythm Is A Dancer (11-9) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
De Barley Basket (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Led, just headed when left in commanding lead last, stayed on, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Planned Paradise (11-11) by 5l, 9 ran.
Rebel Leader (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Raced in mid-division, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Lough Salt (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went second 10th, ridden and lost second before 3 out, held when not fluent next, 5th of 10, 21 3/4l behind Havana River (10-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
