held up, mistake 8th, ridden and headway 12th, weakened approaching 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, weakened after next
jumped right, prominent to 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 9th, led 11th to 13th, ridden after 14th, led again approaching last, all out
led, headed after 9th, stayed prominent, jumped right from 4 out, ridden and every chance from last, ran on
held up in rear, headway 10th, ridden after 14th, weakened 3 out
prominent, led after 9th to 11th, weakened after 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
not jump well, lost place 2nd, reminders after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
behind, ridden and headway 4 out, 5th when pulled up before last
in touch, mistake 1st, lost place when not much room 10th, soon weakened
in touch, mistake 1st, led 13th, hit next, ridden when blundered 3 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened
behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
A good looking field contest this handicap chase with Frentzen, Supreme Breeze, I Am Said I and Be The Tops all in with a shout but the vote goes to the last named. Be The Tops is a winner twice over hurdles and once over fences. That chase win came at Southwell on his penultimate start. He was put up 7lb for that victory and a further 3lb for his second to Tommy Carson at Market Rasen last time out. He still looks an improving individual and can score once again in a day that could prove profitable for the McCoy/O¿Neill combination. Of the others mentioned Frentzen has run consistently well on his three chases runs and was only narrowly beaten at Worcester over course and distance last time out when finishing third to Our Tommy and definitely has place claims. I Am Said I will have his supporters and is a multiple point-to-point winner. He started is under rules in great style when winning a novice chase at Uttoxeter on his debut but his mark of 100 looks steep and will have to prove himself to win. Supreme Breeze trounced the field at Hexham on his penultimate run, but was exposed off his new mark last time out when finishing third of twelve but beaten fourteen lengths by Be The Tops and will struggle to reverse the form today. So for the winner we return to Be The Tops.
