held up, reminders and lost touch 13th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, outpaced when left 2nd and hampered 5 out, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, tailed off
left in lead 1st, made rest, drew clear from 5 out, unchallenged
chased leaders, lost place and reminders 13th, soon lost touch, continued, tailed off
led narrowly until fell 1st
left tracking winner 1st, 7 lengths down and pushed along when fell 5 out
held up, took closer order 14th, hit next, soon struggling, left moderate 3rd 5 out, plugged on to go distant 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner
Tom George has his string in fine form and he can enjoy further success here with TANK TOP, while Presenting Forever should emerge as the leading danger. This trip will take some getting in the ground, which should suit the eight-year-old on both counts. He stays further than this, and acts on soft and heavy ground, and he is just 2lbs higher than when runner-up in a similar contest at Cheltenham in April, so he has every chance. On the negative side, he has been runner-up six times in 13 starts and not yet won, so there is an element of caution while making him the pick. Presenting Forever acts with cut and with both Presenting and Roselier in the pedigree, this step up to a marathon trip should be able to elicit some improvement, so he is very much respected. Smart Mistress is sister to a modest chase winner over this trip, but despite connections who do well here she has plenty to find on her first start in public over fences. Dun Na Ngall is well-related in the context of this race and comes from a yard with a fine pedigree itself, so support for him on his chase debut would be interesting, but we are happy to side with Tank Top to get it right today.
Dun Na Ngall (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, weakened from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3f out, in a race won by Smart John (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 7f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr '08, 13 ran.
Grasscutter (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Brought down 1st, in a race won by Sanpor (10-10) at Hereford 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft, 10 ran.
Presenting Forever (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Chased clear and easy winner throughout, ridden when jumped left 2 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 13, 19l behind Mr Woods (11-5) at Perth 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Single Payment (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, tailed off (poor visibility, 13th of 17, well behind East Beach (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chs hvy in Nov.
Tank Top 10-3 (11-3) Led, not fluent 13th, mistake 20th, headed 4 out, regained lead 3 out, ridden when mistake 2 out, headed last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Zacharova (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
The Brig At Ayr 100-1 (11-2) Always behind, struggling from 8th, pulled up before 4 out, tailed off, in a race won by Mumbles Head (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Smart Mistress 25-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Smuglin (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
