tracked leaders, led 11th, ridden 2 lengths clear last, not quicken and headed final 75 yards
chased leader, ridden approaching last, hung left and not much room 100 yards out, not quicken
led to 11th, outpaced 4 out, effort and mistake 2 out, rallied under pressure flat, hung left 100 yards out, soon led, ran on
jumped left, in touch until weakened 10th
Only five stand their ground here, with the somewhat inconsistent French Executive still expected to have too many guns for some out of form rivals including Dirk Cove and Midy's Risk. Paul Nicholls has probably been disappointed with the eight-year-old in what he has achieved since being put over fences, and indeed it is his inability to change gear that has cost him dearly on more than one occasion. He was firmly put in his place by Take The Stand at Plumpton last time but the drop back here should be offset by the track's unique turns. Dirk Cove takes a drop in both class and trip after contesting a class D event at Ascot last time. The suspicion is that he found the ground too fast then and it is sure to be just as fast at the Sussex track. Leighton Aspell, who rode Red Guard to victory in this event last year, is on board Midy's Risk for Dina Smith. He was hampered early on at Plumpton on his last engagement and is young enough to be open to improvement. So, too many ifs and buts to be ultra-confident, but French Executive would appear to be the obvious choice on his best form.
