in touch, pushed along approaching 4 out, one-paced after next
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leader, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one-paced flat
held up in touch, pushed along 11th, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, steady headway 12th, led approaching 2 out, clear last, ran on well
held up, mistake 9th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to go 3rd next, kept on one-paced flat
in touch, blundered 12th, ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch, mistake 13th and next, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened before next
led, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened after next, beaten when mistake last
Just the nine runners for the day's feature event but plenty of quality even if the quantity is lacking. Martin Pipe's Cyfor Malta sprung a bit of a surprise when beating some better fancied rivals in the Thomas Pink Gold Cup at the Open meeting and is a worthy favourite. However, the nine-year-old is maybe best caught fresh and looks opposable of a 10lb higher mark. Foly Pleasant, fourth in the Thomas Pink, looks held even on the revised terms, as do Killultagh Storm (fifth), Wave Rock (third). Golden Goal and Fondmort, may find this coming too quickly after the re-arranged First National run at Wincanton. Irish raider Youlneverwalkalone is less exposed than most and warrants respect along with Exit Swinger, who unseated in the Thomas Pink, but the TEAMtalk selection is Fadalko. Paul Nicholls has his string in fine form at present so fitness should not be a problem and, as this high-class chaser comes here fresher than most, he might be worth chancing.
