held up, headway approaching 11th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, pulled up before 2out
track leader, led after 3 out, ridden and left well clear last, eased near finish
prominent, mistake 3rd, lost pace approaching 7th, struggling after 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
not fluent, prominent, reminders after 11th, weakened 4 out, well beaten when mistake 3 out
led, headed after 3 out, ridden and still every chance when mistake, swerved left and unseated rider last
prominent, not fluent 2nd, ridden 9th, lost pace next, held off then pulled up before 12th
held up towards rear, headway 6th, reminders approaching 12, weakened after 3out
held up towards rear, reminders after 8th, headway approaching 10th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to go second approaching last, no chance with winner
A decent novices' handicap chase starts proceedings at Stratford with the likes of Ennel Boy, Pontius and Papua all having shown a reasonable aptitude over fences but preference is for Brereton, who looks potentially different class. Bought out of Nicky Henderson's stable by David Johnson after winning at Fakenham earlier in the month, the seven-year-old makes his debut for Martin Pipe today and is expected to make light of a 7lb penalty. A useful horse on his day on the flat, and over hurdles, Papua has not looked a natural over fences but is well treated if he can find improvement. Ennel Boy showed enough behind Pipe's Idaho D'Ox at Bangor last time to suggest that he can win races over fences, while Kelso winner Pontius has to be respected now that Nigel Twiston-Davies has his string in better form. Totland Bay appeals most of the remainder.
