tracked leaders, left 2nd 8th, challenged 4 out, ridden to lead next, headed last, kept on
held up, blundered 13th, outpaced 5 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on to lead last, all out
led until fell 8th
jumped right throughout, tracked leader, left in lead 8th, headed 3 out, ridden and kept on until no extra flat
Disappointingly just the four runners line up for this valuable novices' chase in which while Belon Gale and Stagecoach Opal are both capable, the finish really should be fought out between Dream Garden and SKIPPERS BRIG, with the latter getting the vote. The selection looked a useful recruit to the chasing ranks when landing his first two starts of the season at Carlisle and lost no caste in defeat when stepped into a Grade 2 contest at Wetherby subsequently. The testing conditions today will suit Len Lungo's gelding and he looks to have been found a good opportunity to resume winning ways. Howard Johnson's Belon Gale looks to be going the right way but needs to improve again to trouble the selection, while Sue Smith's Stagecoach Opal is more experienced than most of his rivals but his form is some way below that of his rivals. Chris Bealby's Dream Garden was good value for his Leicester success last time and he rates the main threat to Skippers Brig, who looks the one to be on.
Dream Garden 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, led 14th, headed 3 out, stayed challenging, left in lead last, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Dec beating It's In The Stars (11-0) by 9l, 8 ran.
Skippers Brig (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up, headway and in touch 11th, effort 4 out, outpaced when blundered next, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 23l behind Kornati Kid (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Belon Gale (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, left 2nd at 4th, left in lead 6th, clear from 14th, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft in Dec beating Ajay (11-0) by a distance, 7 ran.
Stagecoach Opal 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, driven to lead near line, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec beating Ngong Hills (10-1) by a hd, 16 ran.
