raced in 3rd, stumbled 2nd, effort under pressure before 3 out, soon no impression
chased winner from 5th, not fluent 13th, ridden and no inpression from 3 out
made all, pushed along from 13th, not fluent 4 out, came clear from 2 out, unchallenged
held up, mistake 5th, outpaced and struggling from 10th, tailed off when jumped slow 4 out
chased winner to 5th, lost place and dropped to rear 8th, blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Calling Brave is progressing well over fences and is taken to score again at the main expense of Santenay and The Bandit. The selection made a winning return over hurdles at Aintree in November before making a winning start to his new career at Folkestone. His last time out hard fought victory over Patricksnineteenth looks better now than at the time given the subsequent success of Paul Webber's gelding at Sandown and a reproduction of that form may suffice. The Paul Nicholls-trained Santenay is capable on his day but does not always impress with is jumping and has yet to prove that he stays this far. The Bandit was not as good as his main rivals over hurdles but is improving over the larger obstacles. This represents his toughest assignment to date though and Emma Lavelle's gelding may come up short. Paul Webber should have a good line to the selection for his Atum Re but neither he, nor Jim Old's Sir Talbot look good enough to trouble Calling Brave, who gets the vote.
