mostly tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out, led last, stayed on
not always fluent, always last, behind 9th, tailed off from next
handy on outside, losing touch when hit 9th, tailed off 4 out
in touch, jumped left 3rd, outpaced by front pair from after 3 out
led, ridden after 12th, not fluent 2 out, headed last, held towards finish
Placed three times over fences last season, Thumb Stone Blues has had a wind operation since last seen but may just need this. Recent rain should help BRAVE EAGLE (NAP) cope with the switch to fences. A winner of five of his nine hurdles starts, Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old looks a nice prospect for chasing and can get off to a winning start in this sphere. Qualando has been placed in three of his six chase starts but he has to work hard to jump the bigger obstacles because of his size.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Wynford (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Kostaquarta (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Led, jumped left 2nd, slow and headed next, lost place 7th, not fluent 9th, mistake when weakening 4 out, mistake 3 out, 5th of 6, 37 1/4l behind Finnegan's Garden (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Apr.
Mister Mister (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, outpaced 10th, no chance from 11th, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Drinks Interval (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (3) gd in Jul.
Qualando (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 4th and rider lost iron briefly, one pace when mistake 2 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Mister Miyagi (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) gd in May.
Thumb Stone Blues (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened before 4 out, 11th of 13, dist behind Wakanda (11-0) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
