held up in touch, mistake 4th, effort approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leader, effort 8th, led approaching 2 out, narrow lead and pressed last, no extra and headed flat
took keen hold, led, not fluent 3rd, joined 8th, headed approaching 2 out and soon beaten
held up in rear, brief effort 3 out, soon beaten
in touch, mistake 3rd, weakened and lost touch 3 out
close up, mistake 5th, one pace and beaten when mistake 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 7th, effort to join leader approaching 2 out, driven to lead flat, stayed on well
held up in rear, never in contention
held up in rear, one pace and no chance when mistake 2 out
in touch to 8th, well behind next, tailed off`
This should lie between the top three with the useful flat horse Bid For Fame taken to get the better of the more stoutly bred due of The Bandit and Limerick Leader. The last mentioned showed signs of ability in bumper-company before making a winning debut over hurdles when scoring at Perth in September. There is obviously more to come from the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding but this represents a step up in class for the son of Supreme Leader and we prefer to side with Bid For Fame. Useful at his best for Terry Mills on the level, the six-year-old has shown improved form on the flat since joining Nicky Henderson and has taken well to hurdles with a comfortable success at Uttoxeter and decent efforts in defeat at Aintree and, latterly, Kempton. On the latter occasion the son of Quest For Fame lost no caste in defeat off a mark of 107 behind the well-treated Bosham Mill in a race over 3m1f that probably tested his stamina too much. This is a more suitable distance and, with the Henderson stable in good form, he looks the one to be on. The Bandit, a winner over course and distance in a handicap off a mark of 91 at the beginning of the month, rates the main danger and has to be respected but we prefer to side with Bid For Fame. Of the remainder, Fantastic Champion and He's The Boss are worthy of a mention but Bid For Fame gets the vote.
