tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed 4 out, outpaced from next
with leader, led 6th, headed 8th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out
prominent, pushed along approaching 13th, soon weakened
held up, led 4 out, soon ridden, headed and not fluent 2 out, hit last, onepaced
led to 6th, pushed along and weakened from 12th
Ferdy Murphy's Family Venture should strip fitter for two runs back after an absence of nearly two years and is taken to make the most of a favourable mark in a race where Gangsters R Us and Benrajah are rated the main dangers. The selection showed improved form for his reappearance when a close third behind the old campaigner Weaver George at Catterick earlier this month and should be spot on now. Top weight Verchoyles Lad has run well on previous visits to these shores and cannot be discounted but recent chase form is not inspiring and a bigger threat is likely to come from Benrajah. Martin Todhunter's gelding gained an overdue success when landing a handicap at Newcastle last month over what had looked beforehand an inadequate trip and has solid claims on that form back over today's distance. However, he was never able to get in a blow at Cheltenham on Friday and this may come too soon. Alan Parker's Gangsters R Us ran better at Newcastle last time and is another worthy of respect. He rates a bigger danger than Only One Matty who has shown very little worthwhile form this term. The vote though goes to Family Venture who is taken to open his account for the season.
