held up 4th and last, left remote 3rd after 10th, tailed off when mistake 5 out, no chance with front pair
tracked leading pair, not fluent 9th, not travel well after, not fluent again next and quickly pulled up
tracked winner throughout, not fluent 13th, kept on same pace, no chance in clear 2nd from 5 out
made all, drew clear on bit after 5 out, went right 3 out, not fluent next, unextended
The Young Master did very well last winter, winning three times over hurdles and twice on the all-weather. But he hasn't raced since February and would have been receiving upwards of 20lb from WEEKEND MILLIONAIR had this been a race over the smaller obstacles. David Pipe's seven-year-old fell on his fencing bow here in June last year and hasn't been since. But fitness is rarely an issue for one from his yard and he still has plenty of scope. Merchant Of Milan was pulled up when favourite at Plumpton in May but is still preferred to Almost Gemini and ex-pointer I'm In Charge of the others.
Almost Gemini (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 7th of 8, 27l behind Cusheen Bridge (12-2) at Huntingdon 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
I'm In Charge 8-11 (12-0) Hdwy 12; led last; pushed out, won at Axe Vale 3m ptp gd in Apr '13 beating Some Slam (12-0) by 3l, 8 ran.
Merchant Of Milan 3-1fav (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 4 out, soon lost place, pulled up after next, in a race won by Venetian Lad (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May, 11 ran.
The Young Master 15-8fav (11-2) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, ridden last, ran on strongly, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan beating American Life (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Weekend Millionair (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, in 4th and looking one pace when fell 3 out, in a race won by Buachaill Alainn (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gf in Jun '13, 11 ran.