in touch, narrow leader 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, edged left, stayed on same pace flat
held up, blundered 8th, headway after 12th, mistake and weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
prominent, effort 4 out, weakened from next, pulled up before last
held up in rear, steady headway from 10th, blundered and lost place 12th, stayed on approaching last, not reach first two
held up, struggling from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased winner to 6th, challenged and every chance 2 out, hard ridden and one pace approaching last
prominent, chased winner 6th to approaching 2 out, 5th and weakening when blundered and fell last
held up, struggling from 9th, no chance when blundered 13th, pulled up before 4 out
led, headed narrowly 2 out, driven and led again approaching last, stayed on gamely flat
This has the makings of a competitive affair, with all nine in with some sort of a chance. Navarone gets weight all round and at least on this visit does not have to face Merchants Friend who was entered at the five-day stage. The worry is that the extra two furlongs will be a bit too far for him though, and we prefer to look elsewhere. Red Guard did not find as much as expected over three miles at Wincanton and will be more at home over this shorter trip, and Julie's Leader can be expected to be there or thereabouts. Lord Moose was a beaten favourite here last time but has won over the course and distance and was successful at Sandown earlier this season. The slightly faster conditions will suit him and he should make the most of the weight he receives from Spinofski, who was a good second on his return to action at Kempton and will not be long in winning. Romero's success over track and trip last time showed that he can win going left-handed but he is now worse off at the weights with Lord Moose for the six lengths that separated them then and it is the latter who is the TEAMtalk selection to turn the tables, especially as Max Pride who was behind, has since gone in at Wincanton.
