jumped well, made all, drew clear from 3 out, easily
chased leaders, not fluent 12th, not clear run after 13th, hit 16th, soon ridden, weakened after next
chased leaders, ridden after 16th, one pace from 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 9th, driven along from 14th, kept on same pace from 4 out
with winner, ridden after 15th, kept on but no chance with winner from 3 out
This is a fairly tight five-runner affair, but a good race, with the vote going to Whitenzo ahead Colonel Frank, Orswell Crest and Ballyvaddy. The selection is well weighted on the basis of his excellent form of 2002, which saw him finish runner-up in the Hennessy Gold Cup. He returned from an 18-month break to finish an excellent third in the Badger Ales Trophy over course and distance last time and, so long as that race has not extracted too high a toll, he looks the one to beat. Colonel Frank has been raised eight pounds for scoring at Sandown last time, but that was a good effort and he is entitled to go well again. Ballyvaddy is very likeable and looked good when scoring in a valuable contest at Chepstow in October but was slightly disappointing at Kempton last time. It could be that a track like Chepstow suits him better. Dear Deal is back to near a winning mark but has a bit to find with Ballyvaddy on Chepstow form, while Orswell Crest is just a pound above a winning mark now and is entitled to respect but, for today, we are happy to side with Whitenzo.
