mistakes, always behind, tailed off when jumped very slowly 3 out, soon pulled up
prominent, led 3rd, ridden after 4 out, headed last, stayed on
held up and keen, headway 3rd, joined leader when stumbled badly, then unseated rider 10th
behind, headway 11th, hit 3 out and 2 out, ridden last, every chance flat, edged right, not quickened
prominent to 5th, hit 7th, weakened 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
in touch, went 2nd 11th, ridden after 4 out, led last, driven out
behind, some headway 11th, weakened 15th
led to 2nd, lost place 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
prominent, mistake 7th, ridden after 11th, weakened next
mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off and fell 3 out
prominent, led 2nd to 3rd, ridden after 11th, weakened 14th
not fluent, prominent to 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
An open beginners chase where the ability to confidently jump a fence at speed has so far eluded at least a handful of the runners. Therefore, it may pay to concentrate on just a few when drawing up the shortlist - with Benbecula just preferred over Long Walk, Jaoka du Gord and Ungaretti. Benbecula has the edge on his much improved running behind Henrietta Knight's One Nation at the start of the year and a repeat of anything like that performance would be good enough to hold his rivals today. Although it is hard to assess just what Beat The Bank achieved when at least completing behind Janus Du Cochet at Exeter last time, a move for him will be interesting. Long Walk is going the right way and is the preferred option out of the remainder to give Benbecula the most to do.
