led, clear approaching 3rd, ridden when headed soon after 5th, weakened
in touch, ridden and kept on one pace from 3 out
tracked leader, led soon after 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last
in touch, weakened after 4th
towards rear, mistake 3rd, ridden and behind 5th, some moderate headway until weakened 2 out
never better than mid-division
held up towards rear, steady headway after 4th to track leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, ridden and outpaced after 5th, stayed on to lead 2 out, ran on clear approaching last, pushed out
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch until lost place 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened
mid-division, slow jump and lost place 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th to go in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
An amateurs' event to close the card and it can go to Court Of Justice with Real Shady and Icare d'Oudairies among others to consider. The selection is a course and distance winner, although that success did come in a seller. He has run with credit in non-sellers since and might represent a bit of value in an interesting contest. The Mick Easterby-trained Real Shady will be ridden by Tom Greenall, who rides plenty of winners in this sphere. He has raced 11 times but came good for the second time at Hexham in November under today's rider. Admittedly, he is now 12lbs higher in the ratings, but has run respectably from revised marks since. Icare d'Oudairies won at Cheltenham in November from a mark of 97 (now 110), and Apadi, a winner from a four-pound higher mark than today's during the summer - but who has run poorly since - are others that will have supporters. Coulthard is still capable of running well over hurdles at this type of level, as is Kattegat, a course and distance winner in November 2001 form a three-pound higher mark than today. Beyond Borders has been knocking at the door from around today's mark without winning, but the others are going to have to pull something of a form rabbit out of the hat to score today. This brings us back to Court Of Justice, and our judgement rules in his favour, but it was far from being a majority verdict.
