held up, headway 9th, ridden after next, soon weakened, no chance when blundered 2 out
prominent, ridden when jumped left and pecked 4 out, weakened next
held up, headway 9th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened before next
led and jumped well, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, reminders after 6th, weakened after 10th
blundered 2nd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway after 10th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out
Page Point gets the vote over Lord Dundaniel, with Kombinacja and Peeyoutwo worth considering in a fairly open-looking contest. Page Point likes the fast ground as proved by his win over hurdles at Huntingdon in March off a mark of 102. Trainer Richard Guest hinted strongly afterwards that the handicapper was leaning too heavily on the seven-year-old, so it was no surprise to see him switched to fences at Sedgefield recently. He ran a blinder as it happens, and was unlucky not to score after being carried right on the run-in, in the end going down by a head to Mckelvey. With ground conditions in his favour, and that run under his belt, Page Point can go one better. Lord Dundaniel was successful over there fixed brush hurdles at Haydock last February despite looking none too fluent, and has now had six outings over fences without success. However there was encouragement to be gleaned from his recent second at Newton Abbot where he stuck to his task well when headed, and he has the ability to win a race of this nature, that is for sure. The mare Kombinajca overcame an early blunder to get round in fourth place on her chase debut at Perth and is interesting now that she is stepped up in trip, while Peeyoutwo makes his belated chase debut at the age of 10 after winning a point-to-point last month. All in all, Page Point has the best chance and should be backed accordingly.
