held up, headway 12th, ridden and close 5th when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
tracked leaders, hampered 11th, soon ridden, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened
led to 3rd, tracked leader, ridden to lead again approaching 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, behind when refused last
tracked leader, led 3rd, mistake 11th, ridden and headed when mistake 3 out, rallied to lead approaching last, stayed on
held up and behind, effort and not fluent 11th, ridden and hung left after 3 out, headway after 2 out, every chance when ran out last
tracked leaders, ridden after 12th, every chance approaching last, no extra flat
A difficult puzzle with doubts about many but Tino can take the measure of Punchy and Palisander. Jeff King's old stager is perhaps at his best when the ground is lively but he proved when beating Rag Week that he is more than capable of holding his own in small fields. Palisander can take a keen hold in his races and with rain forecast, his chances are much improved. His jumping does give cause for concern if he begins to make mistakes. Restless Wind was useful for Toby Balding but has now joined Dr Philip Pritchard without success as yet. Punchy looks a light of his former self and has looked a suspect stayer at anything beyond three miles. Southerndown is competent but rarely wins while Red Alert Man faces an impossible task from out of the handicap proper. We side with Tino in a tricky race.
