hld up and bh, steady hdw from 9th, wkng wh mistake 3 out, p.u bf next
i.t, mistake 3rd, rdn to go 2nd 3 out, sn no imp on wnr
hld up in rr, lost tch 6th, tailed off and p.u bf 9th
mistakes, hit 1st, led to 2nd, trkd ldrs, rdn and lost tch 5th, tailed off and p.u bf 8th
led after 2nd, made rest, clr wh hit 2 out, eased flat
bh, wknd and lost tch from 9th, tailed off wh mistake next
trkd ldrs, chsd wnr 9th to 3 out, sn no ex
reminders after 2nd, prom, mistakes 4th and 5th, rdn and lost tch 6th, tailed off and p.u bf 9th
in m.d, drv along from 9th, ef u,p appr 3 out, wknd after
refused to race, took no part
Messrs Pipe and McCoy run Delaware in this, and he was very disappointing in a similar race at Fontwell on his last run. Sodelk has bits of form but has yet to win a race and the first-time blinkers would have to help her a great deal. Alqabas has shown little despite being by Nashwan out of the 1,000 Guineas winner Harayir. Little Ross has shown a modicum of promise but a number of others are preferred while Smith's Perk has been absent for a long time. German trainer Christian von der Recke sends over another challenger who has to be given due consideration. His name is Madison Avenue, a hurdling debutant who won a 14-furlong apprentice claimer on the Flat in France a year ago. Lord Belfry has no form to speak of. Sungio comes in to the reckoning based on his Fontwell claiming win on 6 October. He is, however 14lbs worse off with Delaware based on their Fontwell runs (where Delaware was disappointing in finishing well behind him), but 4lbs better off with Capriolo (the only course winner in the race) for finishing three-and-a-half lengths behind him that day. It should again be close between them. Further intrigue is added to the race by virtue of leading Flat trainer Paul Cole running Strictly Speaking. He was sixth behind subsequent winner Saitensohn (trained by von der Recke) at Newbury last time. He too must be considered. If Delaware returns to his best form then he should go close but it might pay to side with the German raider Madison Avenue, who gets the TEAMtalk vote.
