led 2nd, headed 6th, led again 7th, pecked 10th, left well clear after 3 out, unchallenged
led to 1st, led again 6th to 7th, chased winner 10th, went 2nd again 12th, every chance 3 out, soon pulled up lame
jumped slowly at several fences, in touch, weakened 3 out, soon left remote 2nd
Five have been declared but this looks a two-horse race in reality between Rum Pointer and Would You Believe, with the former selected to give weight to his main rival. Rum Pointer was quite useful over hurdles as a novice for Tim Easterby but continually paid the penalty for landing a Grade 2 affair at Doncaster. As such he struggled off big weights in handicaps and the decision to send him over fences was a wise one. He did not get off to the best of starts when falling at Plumpton but got round behind Lord Sam at Lingfield and has since won at Uttoxeter and Haydock. That latest effort has been franked by The Kew Tour who scored next time, and Rum Pointer should have no trouble giving the form a further boost. Would You Believe came to grief at the final fence when sent off as favourite here 18 days ago but was running out of steam at the time and the drop back in trip should be abig help at this stage of his career. However he does not have as much scope as Rum Pointer who is a confident choice.
