chased leaders, challenged 4th, weakened after 7th
chased leaders, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, left in lead 2nd, headed 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
always behind, pulled up after 5th
behind, tailed off from 7th, pulled up before last
led, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
behind, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
not fluent, held up, headway 6th, led approaching 2 out, pushed out
pushed along towards rear, headway 7th, outpaced approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway to 7th, effort next, never on terms
held up, joined leaders 6th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, one pace and no impression
Franco is not the most reliable individual but we will take him to score here, while Perfect Balance, Oscatello and Schumann could also be leading players. The selection has dropped down the ratings and was running well off this mark when running out at Leicester on his penultimate start. He put up a good effort last time in a better contest than this at Doncaster and we will hope that he can repeat the dose, which will do for us here. Perfect Balance acts at this trip and with cut, but he looks likely to find one or two too good as usual. Oscatello has been bridesmaid on three successive occasions, when he has just lacked a finishing kick. This trip looks ideal however, and he acts with cut, so if he can run up to form then in this weak affair he could go close. Schumann was a winner over two miles in a bumper in the autumn and can put a poor hurdling debut behind him with a better effort here, but Franco has the class to outpoint this lot.
