close up, not fluent 3rd, tracked winner from 5 out, driven and every chance 3 out, weakening soon after
held up tracking leader, reminders and dropped rear 11th, pulled up after 13th
tracked leader, not fluent first 2, hit 6th, disputed lead 11th and 12th, led 13th, challenged 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on
led, ridden 10th, challenged 11th and 12th, headed 13th, ridden and weakened quickly next
This should develop into a match between Beaver Lodge and Stromness, with a tentative vote going to the latter. Bank balances have regularly been stripped over the years with top class hurdlers not making the grade over fences and for the sake of punters and the horse itself, lets hope that Stromness's two defeats from his first two chasing starts are not another such story. Alan King's gelding would thrash these out of sight for speed over hurdles and given a clear round he can definitely get the better of them, he just needs to jump with a bit more fluency and is worth persevering with. Should he still not fence well enough, then Beaver Lodge will surely be the one to benefit. Charlie Mann's charge was a beaten favourite at Market Rasen on his chasing debut, but stayed on well there and can come on for the run. He should be good for second, with Eastern Point next best, but the vote goes to class horse, Stromness.
