led to 6th, led again 8th, headed 4 out, weakened after next
held up in rear, headway halfway, led on bit after 4 out, comfortably
with leader, led 6th to 8th, led again briefly 4 out, not chance with winner
mid-division, pushed along 9th, outpaced 5 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
in touch, pushed along 9th, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, weakened quickly 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
A small but competitive field goes to post for this beginners chase and the main protagonists look to be Green Ideal, Eastern Tribute and Maceo and the vote goes to the last named. The gelding from the Mary Reveley yard was a fair sort over hurdles and although it is in late in life for him to switch to fences at the age of 10 he is sure to have been well schooled and if he could reproduce his effort that saw him finish third in a class B hurdle behind Regal Exit he would be hard to beat. Green Ideal was well backed last time and had every chance until unshipping his rider last time out. If his jumping holds up he would be a danger to all. Eastern Tribute is also worthy of respect he was a fair second behind the highly regarded Grattan Lodge last time and has definite place claims. Mr Hornblower is a lightly raced gelding who is sure to improve. However, he has a 1145 day absence to overcome and his best form is over a longer trip so he may need the run. So in a tricky race to call the vote goes to Maceo.
