led to 4 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat
held up towards rear, mistake and weakened 14th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, mistake 11th, headway and led 4 out, headed after last, weakened flat
mid-division, mistake 2nd, ridden and outpaced before 17th, rallied 3 out, ran on well flat, just failed
chased leader, mistake 10th, pulled up before 15th
mid-division, mistake 1st and 4th, ridden and chased leaders 4 out, weakening when mistake last
prominent, ridden after 12th, behind
mid-division, chased leader 13th, ridden 15th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up last, headway 17th, blundered 3 out and 2 out, switched left and challenged last, ran on well flat, led close home
Echo du Lac, Orswell Crest, Kingsmoor and Alcatras are all shortlisted in this handicap chase and we will make Orswell Crest our choice. The gelding from the Peter Hobbs yard is a course and distance winner who unseated his rider here last time out. But his previous third behind Indian Chance over this course and distance looks like solid form in the context of this race and he should go well. Echo Du Lac is the one that will give him the most to do as he ran well when second behind Pharaway Citizen at Bangor. That was on ground that was faster than ideal and he will not be far away here with conditions in his favour. Kingsmoor was a surprise winner when defeating Idealko at Leicester last time but this looks tougher and he will not necessarily be suited by the step up in trip. Alcatras is the other to consider as he has been placed on his last two runs, but he is flattered by the bare form of those runs and the best he can hope for here is a place, so for the winner we return to Orswell Crest.
