held up in touch, took closer order after 11th, led 5 out, clear 3 out, comfortably
held up rear, headway approaching 5 out, 4 lengths third when fell heavily 4 out
held up in touch and keen, pecked fifth, took closer order 8th, with leader when fell 10th
in touch to 4th, blundered and unseated rider 7th
prominent, led 10th to 11th, led briefly approaching 5 out, one pace from 4 out
led to 2nd, jumped right 3rd, with leader 6th and 7th, ridden and weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
held up, headway 8th to track leaders, weakening when left 3rd 4 out
led 2nd to 10th, led 11th until approaching next, weakening when mistake 5 out, pulled up before next
Straight Talker is a token selection in a race thin on both quantity and quality with Alheri and Alvaro rated the main dangers. The selection is less exposed than most of his rivals and Martin Pipe's gelding showed enough when chasing home the well treated Tudor King at Exeter earlier this month that he would be winning before too long. The five-year-old has been switched to the larger obstacles today and, in a poor race, is taken to make a winning start to his chasing career. Alheri ran well in similar company when last seen at Hereford in June but may just need the outing today and of more interest may be Alvaro who is well in on hurdles form but has yet to convince over fences. Colonial Sunset has slipped to a fair mark but has given little sign of encouragement, while Hi Rudolf has not shown the same level of form recently as he was doing in the summer. L'Etang Bleu has age on his side but little else and a safer bet looks to be Straight Talker who is the selection.
