led, headed briefly after 1st, headed 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
held up, pecked 2nd, not fluent and reminders after 5th, lost touch 7th, pulled up before 3 out
led briefly after 1st, prominent, chased leaders and ridden after 6th, went 2nd again after 2 out, always held
held up, headway 5th, led next, clear when went left and not fluent 2 out, saddle slipped and rider lost irons, stayed on
in touch, struggling 6th, hit next, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 8th
close up, went 2nd after 8th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out
Backscratcher is nearing a retirement age and can be passed over as we side with Meet The Legend ahead of Brave Face. There is plenty of point-to-point form to go on here which makes life slightly tougher however Meet The Legend looks sure to play a part. Josh Guerriero is a capable Amateur rider and along with the well-regarded Jamie Snowden is one of the more reliable jockeys in the lineup. Trainer Nick Williams has his horses in good form and so the selection is taken to make a winning racecourse debut. Brave Face was well-fancied when finishing fourth at Newton Abbot back in June and he warrants respect now stepping up in trip and tackling hurdles for the first time. Wild Knight sounds fun but Richard Price's chaser has not been at his best of late. However he cannot be easily overlooked now returned to the smaller obstacles and needs at least a check in the betting. At a price Backscratcher could go well on his return to the racecourse after a spell point-to-pointing, however Meet The Legend is fancied to oblige.
Backscratcher 25-1 (12-0) (cp) nt keen; t.o & pulled up in race won by Tallow Bridge (12-3) at Clifton-On-dunsm 3m ptp gf in Apr, 7 ran.
Brave Face 5-4fav (11-1) Chased leader, led on bit 7f out, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 4th of 6, 8l behind Ambrosinni (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) sft in Jun.
Captain Becket 40-1 (10-5) Always behind, 9th of 15, 20l behind Pips Assertive Way (10-5) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Meet The Legend (IRE) (12-0) Won at Ballysteen 3m ire ptp gd in Apr beating Flying Felix (12-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Takeachanceonhim 100-1 (10-7) Slow jump 1st, in touch, weakened quickly 7th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Nakai (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Toledo Sun 12-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 13th of 15, 45l behind Aristi (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sept.
Wild Knight (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) In touch, mistake 8th, led and blundered 12th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened, 4th of 9, 25l behind Super Judge (11-5) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
