held up mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, blundered badly and weakened 2 out
keen in rear, tailed off 5th, pulled up 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, never better
tracked leader, jumped right 2nd, ridden 4 out, weakened next
held up rear, never a danger, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden for headway to chase leaders 3 out, kept on after last
held up rear and keen, headway 6th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, weakened after last
mid-division, headway after 4th, led 5th, headed soon after 7th, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders and keen, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
led until headed approaching 5th, weakened quickly, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders and keen, weakened approaching 6th and mistake, soon well behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, still in touch when ridden and mistake 3 out, stayed on again moderately towards finish
A very poor opener where there are two to concentrate on in Thunderpoint and Mighty Minster, with the vote just going to Mighty Minster. The daughter of Minster Son was backed down to second favourite for her seasonal debut at Worcester in May, but was unlucky to be hampered and go crashing out at the first. Put away since then, she again comes here fresh and presumably connections feel they have found another race she is capable of winning. Over a trip and on ground that she will relish, she is taken to score. Chief rival will surely be Thunderpoint, who despite being 11-year-old now, is still in good heart as evidenced by his Hereford chase win last month. Back over hurdles where he has a lower rating, should not inconvenience him, though he might not just have enough speed to pip the younger selection. Of the remainder Greensmith Lane is relatively consistent and makes some appeal to get into the frame, but the vote remains with Mighty Minster.
