tracked leader, blundered and rider lost iron 8th, led 4 out, 2 lengths ahead and going well when left well clear 2 out, eased run-in
led, ridden and headed 4 out, 2 lengths down and under pressure when fell 2 out
chased leading pair, outpaced and no chance from 10th, left poor 2nd 2 out
raced in 4th, outpaced by leading pair from 10th, left poor 3rd 2 out
in last place when blundered and unseated rider 6th
Copsale Lad gets the call ahead of Foreman. Second to Albuhera in a Graded event last time, Copsale Lad had earlier looked good when winning here and he can repeat the dose today. Back Nine is six pounds better off for 13 lengths from that Lingfield race, while, at best, Foreman was a high-class hurdler and his chance is there for all to see on that basis. Finally, Twenty Degrees has shown ability and looks best of the others, but we will side with Copsale Lad.
Copsale Lad 6-5fav (11-0) Led, hit 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, still upsides 2 out, one pace approaching last, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Albuhera (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Back Nine (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 5 out, well behind from 3 out, 4th of 5, 27l behind Darkness (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (B) gs.
Phone Back (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Not fluent, mistake 4th and always behind, 8th of 10, 21l behind Murphy's Quest (11-0) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (C) gs in Dec '04.
Sett Aside 100-1 (11-0) Held up, never dangerous, 8th of 13, well behind Lord Olympia (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd.
Twenty Degrees 10-3 (11-2) Took keen hold, in touch, challenging when not much room and stumbled badly after 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 30l behind Art Affair (10-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Foreman (GER) (10-10) Never in touch, 9th of 11, 48l behind Zaiyad (10-3) at Enghien 2m 3f hdl Grd 3 (1).
