behind from 5th and
made all, not fluent 12th, reminders next, not fluent 2 out, kept on well
pulled very hard and not jump well, soon chasing leaders, mistake 8th and soon behind, trailing when pulled up
always chasing winner, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from last
This will be just like old time when Tony McCoy gets the leg up aboard Control Man, who would have trounced these over hurdles and is readily preferred over Charlies Future, whose latest start was boosted by Backbeat at Exeter yesterday and is expected to put up the most resistance. Mixsterthetrixster can also play his part and he can be expected to be played late if he runs his usual race. However, he will do well to reel in a classy individual like Control Man if he allows him an easy lead and he may well have flown by the time the others are just getting going. It will be interesting to see Where Martin Pipe decides to go with the son of Glacial Storm if he impresses here. But the fact that he is starting off with what looks to be, for all intents and purposes, a confidence boosting round at this level, suggests that the champion trainer may have plenty more cards up his sleeve with his novice chasers this season. Even so, it is very difficult to look beyond Control Man in a race that appears to be his for the taking.
