led briefly 2nd, with leader, led 7th to 10th, led 12th until ridden and headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, blundered 4th, mistake 9th, soon beaten and tailed off
led after 2nd to 7th, led again 10th to 12th, soon ridden along, hard ridden to lead flat, all out
led briefly 1st, in touch until reminders 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 13th
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
always prominent, ridden 5 out, led 3 out, headed and not quicken flat
With the blinkers back on that he wore to good effect over hurdles last term, Limerick Leader is taken to get off the mark over fences and is preferred to Get My Drift and Hirvine. The selection was not disgraced when finding just the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Baron Windrush too good for him at Stratford on his chasing debut earlier this month. The six-year-old made a couple of early mistakes that day but jumped better as the race went on, however, it is no surprise to see the blinds fitted and he looks worth another chance. The Paul Nicholls-trained Get My Drift has form between the flags and it will be interesting to see how he performs on his rules debut, while Hirvine has some decent form in handicaps over hurdles and now makes his chasing bow. Bob Buckler's He's The Boss won first time out over hurdles at Ascot last term so can go well when fresh and is another to consider along with two more recruits from the point-to-point field Supreme Sir and Up The Pub. Limerick Leader sets a decent standard though and will be tough to beat.
