held up close 4th, led after 2 out, hard ridden and stayed on well flat, all out
chased leader, outpaced after 4 out, no chance after
led at steady pace, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on
A disappointing turn out for this valuable prize and with Rushing Again and Whereareyounow both having shown little over fences of late it appears a match between the remaining pair. Joss Naylor was a useful staying hurdler last season picking up back-to-back events at Doncaster and Warwick before finishing a highly creditable runner-up over this trip in a Grade 3 handicap at the Festival meeting. Jonjo O'Neill's charge has taken well to fences having impressed with his jumping technique to land novice events at Bangor and Uttoxeter and is sure to improve further but faces a tough opponent in the shape of Tarxien. Progressive over timber, Martin Pipe's gelding promises to be even better over the larger obstacles with fluent displays to register wide-margin victories both here and at Ascot of late. The son of Kendor showed at the Berkshire track that he is fully effective on testing ground and should take the world of beating under McCoy.
