held up, headway and in touch 7th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and beaten
held up mid-division, steady headway after 4 out, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat
mid-division, close up 5th, led approaching 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, no extra flat
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, hit next, ridden and not fluent last, stayed on to go 2nd flat, not reach winner
disputed lead to after 6th, soon lost place, tailed off from 2 out
led to after 6th, soon ridden and lost place, tailed off 2 out
chased leaders to 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, led after 6th, hit next, headed approaching 3 out, weakened after next
held up in rear, headway 7th, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
Stage By Stage lines up in top form and can complete a hat-trick, with only Mister Moussac, Litron and Littleton Valar likely to offer any resistance. If Tony McCoy has not visited the winner's enclosure by the time of this penultimate event on the card, then he should certainly put matters right here. Charlie Egerton's five-year-old, a mile and a quarter winner on the Flat, has not taken long to get the hang of things over hurdles, gaining back-to-back successes at Hexham despite clearly needing further than two miles. He gets the step up in trip that he really wants here, and with the champion once again doing the steering, there is every reason to believe that he can continue his winning ways. Irish challenger Litron outstayed his rivals when scoring over the course and distance on his first foray on these shores but will find it tougher with his penalty, while Mister Moussac ran out when leading down the far side at Worcester but may find conditions too quick. Littleton Valar has course form but has been unplaced on his last two outings and all in all, this looks best left to Stage By Stage who can defy a double penalty.
