tracked leader, led 3 out, headed next, weakened before last
held up, blundered 2nd, behind and ridden when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
led, mistake 6th, ridden along from 8th, headed 3 out, weakened before next, 5th and no chance when blundered last
held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, led 2 out, jumped right last, driven clear flat
tracking leaders when blundered and fell 6th
held up in touch, challenged and every chance 2 out, ridden and no impression from last, lost 2nd last stride
mistake 2nd, tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, stayed on under pressure after next, took 2nd last strides but no chance with winner
blundered 1st, soon driven in rear, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
A tight little handicap to round off the card and Gus Des Bois is marginally preferred to Inaki, The Leader and Power Unit, who are all capable of making this a real test for the selection. Silent Sound also has claims on the best of his form and should not be written off yet despite failing to complete last time. While the Venetia Williams-trained Imaginare appeals as the best of the rest, but he has plenty of weight to carry today and may be susceptible to a fast finisher on the predicted going. The Robert Alner-trained Gus De Bois fits that profile as he already has the proven ability to quicken out of this sort of ground. The 10-year-old also goes very well at this course and can be expected to make a bold bid as he arrives here after a much improved effort last time. The Leader is also one worth considering after his easy win at Towcester last month, but that effort came on the back of a summer break and there has to be a suspicion that he may bounce this time around. Therefore Gus De Bois just edges the narrowest of votes as his three previous outings this season will have left him spot on for this.
