chased leader to 3rd, hit 6th, mistake 8th, led 4 out, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last, one pace
led to 5th, mistake 6th, led again 7th to 4 out, soon ridden and hung left, weakened last
held up, headway 6th, every chance 4 out, soon hung left and weakened
chased leader 3rd, led 5th to 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, led again approaching last, stayed on
took keen hold, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Polished, Broke Road and Mexican are the ones to concentrate on and our nod goes to Polished. The booking of Tony McCoy for Vic Dartnall certainly catches the eye and while Polished is not a frequent winner - he is a course and distance scorer and the Champion Jockey will certainly be all out to force his head home. Broke Road is a recent winner having landed a claiming hurdle. It is almost four years since he won a chase but this is hardly the most difficult of tasks. Mexican is impossible to predict regardless of whether he races on the flat, over hurdles or over chase fences. The market could prove informative as to how he has been faring at home. Bel Ombre was a decisive winner at Bangor under similar conditions. This trip is about ideal and he must have a decent chance if consenting to put his best foot forward. Tagar looked beaten when a faller at Carlisle and has much more to do before appearing a realistic betting proposition. A minefield for punters but the McCoy factor can prevail with Polished.
Polished 12-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden after 2nd, brief effort after 3 out, no impression, 12th of 14, well behind Wellbeing (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Broke Road (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, hit last, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Weet Watchers (11-0) by 1l, 11 ran.
Bel Ombre (FR) 4-1 (10-7) Always behind and pulled up 2 out in race won by Fantasmic (10-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr, 7 ran.
Tagar (FR) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leader until fell 3 out in race won by Nifty Roy (10-9) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Apr, 10 ran.
Mexican (USA) 12-1 (11-2) Always behind, 9th of 11, well behind Drumossie (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m sll hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.