held up and behind, not fluent 3 out, stayed on flat, never dangerous
held up, headway 4th, lost place and mistake next, no chance when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up and behind, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last
behind, reminder after 2nd, mistake 5th, soon beaten
led until after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway approaching 4th, hard ridden to lead flat, driven out
tracked leader, led after 5th, ridden and headed flat, no extra
held up and behind, some headway approaching 3 out, no impression
Monzon can take the prize back to France, with Half Inch and Spike And Divel his main rivals in the finale. Francois Doumen looks to have found a suitable opportunity to cement his association with jockey Dean Gallagher as the pair team up with Monzon who collected a middle-distance maiden on the Flat a fortnight ago. He reared up on his debut over hurdles earlier but is sure to have been extensively schooled by his trainer who normally leaves nothing to chance on his cross-Channel raids. Half Inch has been mightily consistent so far without getting her head in front and may again be placed here, although she looks a hard ride with her high head carriage. Spike And Divel was tailed off behind Just A Touch at Towcester in April and has been rested since. He will probably find conditions too lively today and would only merit considering if the market spoke in his favour. Monzon would not have to be anything special to score here and gets the vote.
