in touch, ridden and lost touch when mistake 3 out, weakened
held up mid-division, headway to chase winner 12th, ridden after 4 out, not pace of winner
held up last early, mid-division 7th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, pushed along and mistake 8th, lost touch and mistake 15th, behind and pulled up before 2 out (wore cheek pieces)
led, reminder 6th, ridden and quickened 4 out, driven clear 2 out, readily
chased winner, reminder and lost place 7th, behind 10th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
Timmy Murphy is reunited with Paul Nicholls on the card and holds a good chance with recent Cheltenham winner Cape Stormer. The former Henrietta Knight inmate showed good qualities to win at Prestbury Park and, even under a six-pound rise, can make his presence felt off topweight. Venetia Williams now trains Pharpost, who is making his chasing debut but is well-bred for this game. Garolsa hasn't covered himself in glory yet over the bigger obstacles but gets plenty of weight from the top two, as do Philip Hobbs' Orswell Crest (surely better than an 85-rated chaser although he lacks a run this season) and Nigel Twiston Davies' Benick (who proved he stayed well over hurdles) although the latter races from six pounds out of the handicap. Kim Bailey is making good noises about his chasing team this year and he usually buys horses with plenty of scope. It would be no surprise then to see Fond Farewell go well but it looks as though the Nicholls and Murphy partnership hold the aces this time and Cape Stormer is the TEAMtalk selection.
