held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, led going well approaching 2 out, strongly pressed flat, kept on gamely
tracked leaders until weakened quickly after 2 out
keen hold in touch, weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
close up, not fluent 4th, effort to track winner going well 2 out, strong challenge and every chance flat, held near finish
held up in 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last
pulled hard, soon chased ldr,led 3rd to after 3 out, 5th and beaten when bad mistake 2 out, blundered and unseated rider next, remounted
led to 3rd, mistake next, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
Rooster Booster is clearly going to take all the beating in this race. This nine-year-old has been a true gem for Philip Hobbs and has a good working relationship with Richard Johnson. He has won well at Sandown in the past without getting his head in front. He has proven his stamina with back to back wins at Cheltenham this season, taking his tally to three for the season and should win again. Telimar Prince is a progressive sort who has been moving well through the grades since winning his second start over hurdles in March. He ran well to finish a close second to Spectrometer at Cheltenham last time out, although the form of that race is yet to work out. Over The First has been doing well in Ireland, winning three of his starts this season. He is proven over two miles and could be a real danger to Rooster Booster. Yorkshire enjoyed some cracking form in lower grade races in the summer, but was unable to repeat those winning results when stepped up in grade. He has struggled in his recent races, so would do well to finish in the first three. Misconduct is a course and distance winner, but hasn't run for more than a year and is best watched on his first race back. Self Defense as a good each-way shout, having finished third in both the Tolworth and Winter Hurdles. While Royal Racer would have plenty to prove on only his second start over jumps.
