held up in rear, steady headway after 15th, led on bit after 4 out, clear when hit 2 out, very easily
held up, mistake 12th, headway next, led 15th, headed after 12th, soon ridden, no impression when hit 2 out
held up in touch, outpaced 14th, ridden 3 out, kept on under pressure to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner.
with leader, led after 3rd, mistake 9th and 10th, hit 13th, headed 15th, ridden and weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
led until after 3rd, tracked leader, lost place 13th, soon pushed along, ridden and kept on one pace from 2 out
chased leaders, lost place and reminders 13th, not jumped well after, lost touch 15th, soon tailed off
Just Strong will find this marathon trip to his liking and gets the call over Red Alert Man, and Black Smoke in a weak contest. The fact that the two main contenders line up from out of the handicap sums this contest up, but something has to win it and Just Strong is nominated. Muriel Naughton's charge was wrong in the weights at Sedgefield last time but stayed on behind Place Above on ground that was too soft for him. Conditions will be a bit faster here and the extra three furlongs should help. Red Alert Man battled his way to victory from out of the handicap at Warwick last time despite his rider losing his whip on the final circuit, and is another that will relish the trip. However, he has a 7lb penalty to overcome and is even further out of the weights than the selection. Black Smoke really needs to get his jumping together and Mac's Supreme has not been seen since May 2003. All in all then, a very moderate contest can go the way of Just Strong.
