tracked leaders, stumbled 14th, ridden next, weakening and beaten when mistake 2 out
mid-division, hampered 13th, ridden and chased winner from 4 out, no extra from last
tracked leader, led after 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on well
led, headed after 10th, mistake 13th, ridden and beaten from 4 out
soon behind, hit 8th, ridden and beaten from 12th
towards rear, rear, chased leaders 12th, ridden and beaten 4 out
towards rear, effort 10th, behind and lost touch 12th
A fairly competitive Showcase event and the ability to stay the trip will prove crucial in the testing conditions. Luzcadou became rather disappointing last season but has dropped to a very attractive mark as a consequence and took full advantage when a convincing six-length winner over 2m4f here last month. Ferdy Murphy's charge has been raised 7lb since but remains thrown in on the pick of his chase form and is the TEAMtalk choice to confirm last month's form with runner-up The Grey Dyer and former hunter chaser Kung Hei Fat Choi who was a further 21 lengths adrift and is 11lb better off with the winner but still looks easily held. Kerry Lads has claims on his placed effort at Carlisle in October (now 3lb higher) but made several mistakes before coming to grief here next time and now has something to prove so the selection's stablemate, Historg, may prove a bigger danger. The son of Cyborg will have no problems with either trip or ground and should be sharper for a recent encouraging third (now 1lb lower) on his return at Kelso last month.
