mid-division, headway to track leaders 10th, ridden when mistake 14th, soon weakened, left 3rd last
tracked leader, blundered 7th, soon lost place and behind
mid-division, ridden 14th and weakened
led, clear 4th, blundered when headed 13th, chased winner from next, beaten 3rd when fell last
held up, headway to join leaders 13th, with clear front trio 4 out, chased winner next and no impression
in rear and mistakes, never dangerous
in touch, tracked leader from 10th, led after 13th, in command when jumping right 2 out, easily
tracked leaders, weakened 14th
in rear and mistakes, ridden halfway
Like a lot of the stable's horses, Jonjo O'Neill's Master Tern did not see a lot of action last term and may be worth a punt on his return in a race where Ross Comm and Native Daisy rate the main dangers. The selection is well treated on the pick of his form of a couple of years ago and with the O'Neill stable back among the winners, he makes plenty of appeal in this company. Waterberg is slipping to an attractive mark and showed signs of a revival last time, while Swansea Bay has not won for some time and may need some more help from the handicapper. Idealko receives weight away all round but still does not look to be good enough and of more interest may be Native Daisy, who finished last season in good form and has been freshened up by a break. Smile Pleeze is coming back to a fair mark and is worthy of a mention but the biggest threat is likely to come from Ross Comm, who comes here in good form and should appreciate the return to this trip having been beaten over shorter at Uttoxeter last time. Master Tern is well treated on his best form though and Jonjo O'Neill's gelding gets the vote.
Swansea Bay 5-2fav (10-2) Prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 9l behind Downing Street (10-13) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gf in Jul.
Smile Pleeze (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Behind, under pressure 8th, soon lost touch, 6th of 12, 28l behind Lords Best (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Apr.
Thieves'glen 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 17, 36l behind West End Wonder (10-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Jul.
Master Tern (USA) 16-1 (11-6) Always behind, ridden 11th, soon lost touch, tailed off from 13th, 6th of 8, well behind Tommy Carson (10-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Oct.
Waterberg (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, reminders 5th, mistake 9th, ridden when hit 5 out, stayed on to chase clear winner from 2 out, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Kelly (11-1) at Stratford 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Jun.
Ross Comm 2-1jt-fav (11-8) Chased leaders, hit 7th, led 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Flahive's First (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Jul.
Native Daisy (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Tracked leader, led after 5th, mistake 10th, headed 11th, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Calcot Flyer (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Apr.
Idealko (FR) 66-1 (10-8) Soon behind, 8th of 14, 49l behind Blakeney Coast (10-6) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Jul.
