in rear, headway 4 out, 4th and no impression when mistake next
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, hit 10th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra
mistakes, in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 14th
mistakes, tracked leader, blundered 9th, reminders, lost place 13th, tailed off from 4 out
held up in touch, headway 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on
led, hit 1st, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd and well beat when mistake last
From our shortlist of Toulouse-Lautrec, Free To Run and Radcliffe, we will opt for Toulouse-Lautrec. Toulouse-Lautrec put up a fair effort to finish second to Ballybrophy at Chepstow in January from today's mark. He comes here on the back of a Newton Abbot win and, to our way of thinking, looks to hold solid claims in this marathon event. Blame The Ref has gone well here in the past from around today's mark, although his win-to-runs record is modest. Free To Run warmed up for this by finishing second over course and distance from today's mark last time and, with his effectiveness thereby proven, has also to be on the shortlist. Buzybakson is rarely out of the money these days and might claim a minor berth again, while Radcliffe was slightly disappointing at Plumpton last time following a Leicester win, the form of which looks pretty solid, and, without having to run with a penalty on this occasion, he too has to be considered. Finally, Joint Authority takes a massive step up in trip here so is hard to fancy on that basis. In conclusion, then, once again we just side with Toulouse-Lautrec.
