in touch, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
held up mid division, chased leaders approaching 5th, blundered but soon lost place, held up and pulled up before last
held up towards rear, effort after 4 out, weakened on next
held up, steady headway approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up
made all, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last
chased winner, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up in rear, weakening when hit 2 out
chased leaders, hit first, ridden to chase winner approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, reminders after 4 out, headway approaching next, ridden and hit 2 out, ran on strongly towards finish, not reached winner
held up towards rear, headway to go second approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on and lost 2nd towards finish
Sir Brastias is given the confident vote with Golden Reward and Fortune Point put forward as the likely dangers. The 5-year-old from the Kim Bailey yard ran well enough at Exeter last time behind Supreme Dawn on only his second start over hurdles to make him the one to beat here. A reproduction of that effort should suffice with conditions in his favour. Golden Reward rates the main danger as he was badly hampered at Kelso last time behind Flame Phoenix, and the form of that run can as a consequence be ignored. But he had previously finished in front of the winner of that race at Taunton so he has to be respected. Fortune Point isn't the most trustworthy but he has shown a fair level of form on the flat and if he is in the mood then he could have place prospects. Of the remainder, Briery Mac ran okay last time out and has the services of Tony Dobbin to help his cause here, so he might be worthy of a second look in the market, but for the winner we return to Sir Brastias.
