disputed lead, narrow lead and mistake 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened before last
held up in rear, headway going well between last 2, chased winner well before last, ridden and found little flat, no impression
mostly tracked clear leading pair, hit 3 out, one pace before last, kept on flat
held up in touch, headway to track leading pair before 2 out, led between last 2, in command before last comfortably
raced wide, held up, under pressure and no response 3 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
behind, mistake 3 out, ridden and no impression between last 2
disputed lead, hit 5th, weakened after 2 out
close up, until mistake and lost place 3rd, well beaten when mistake 2 out, tailed off
Cristoforo is an interesting contender and can return with a bang at the expense of Lord Lington and Jacks Craic. Cristoforo certainly paid to follow on the Flat last summer, scoring four times in all, including here at the Kent track. He tended to travel well from off the pace before cruising through to score with a bit in hand, so as those tactics worked a treat on the level, we can expect a similar pattern as he returns to the winter game. He was found out by the hill when chasing home Gone Too Far at Cheltenham in November 2003 but that was a much better affair than this and the combination of a return to this sort of track and the drop in grade should ensure that he is the one to beat. Of his rivals, Jacks Craic is a bit fitter but may need further to impress, while Lord Lington has been off since last April when tailed off behind the useful River City. The rest are not worth worrying about, and Cristoforo's class should see him through against modest opposition.
