mistakes in rear, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, not reach leaders and mistake last
held up in 5th and well off the pace, ridden 7th, struggling next, tailed off
led and soon well clear, not fluent 3rd, ridden 7th, headed next and weakened
behind, mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up
chased leader and clear of rest, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear and pushed along, headway under pressure before 2 out, chased leading pair last, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner
chased clear leading pair, closed up before 6th, mistakes 4 out and next, soon weakened and tailed off
held up in 4th, closed up from 6th, chased leader after 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, edge left and driven out flat
not fluent, held up in 5th, mistake 6th and next, headway to chase winner approaching 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat
always behind, pushed along 7th, soon tailed off
Blue Americo put earlier disappointments behind him when landing a Huntingdon handicap last month and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding is taken to follow up off his 9lb higher mark in a race where Samsaam and stablemate Yourman rate the main dangers. The selection, a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Imperial Call, is likely to do better over fences in the fullness of time but, judging by the way that he won at Huntingdon the six-year-old might not have stopped winning over hurdles yet. Samsaan has some decent form to his name but he may be a shade high in the weights at present and a bigger threat may come Yourman. Martin Pipe's gelding is less exposed than his stable companion and would probably have won more races this term had he not been so unfortunate. With the in-form Timmy Murphy in the plate, he has to be respected. Charlie Mann's Makulu has more to do than when winning at Fontwell last time and of greater interest may be Migwell, who confirmed his current well-being with a decent effort behind Rosemauve at Uttoxeter last week. General Duroc and Durlston Bay face no easy task on their return following an absence and preference is for Blue Americo, who is taken to win again.
