made all, shaken up briefly after 5th, unchallenged
towards rear and keen early, blundered and fell 7th
held up in touch, blundered 2nd, ridden after 13th, weakened and beaten from 3 out
held up, reminders after 12th, soon ridden, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
tracked winner, ridden 4 out, beaten from next
Len Lungo has wasted no time in putting Brave Lord over fences and the seven-year-old has to be respected but lack of a recent run and chasing experience is of concern and preference is for Garde Bien, who gets the vote over Shannon's Pride. The last mentioned is entitled to strip fitter for his recent return following a 10-month break at Carlisle. It is possible that the Nicky Richards-trained gelding may bounce though and a safer proposition looks to be Garde Bien. Ferdy Murphy's gelding made a satisfactory reappearance at Cheltenham behind Gazump last week and, off a 1lb lower mark, he looks to be the one that they all have to beat. Richard Guest's Why The Long Face has slipped to a fair mark but has given little sign of encouragement of late and is probably best watched. A bigger threat then may come from Jim Goldie's Jallastep although a 6lb rise for his win at Perth in June leaves the seven-year-old with more to do. Celtic Legend was well held on his reappearance and should strip fitter but Garde Bien holds solid claims and gets the vote.
