facing wrong way as tapes rose and lost at least 25 lengths, jumped right, latched on to rear of field 6th, behind when injured and pulled up before 12th
chased leaders, ridden along after 12th, pecked 3 out, chased leaders from next, switched right and driven from last, stayed on to lead final 75 yards
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th until 12th, weakened 4 out
in touch, hampered on bend after 8th, went 2nd 12th, led approaching last kept on until no extra and headed final 75 yards
chased leader, challenged 9th, led 10th, driven along from 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened to 3rd flat
led until 10th, weakened under pressure 12th, tailed off
held up in touch, headway to 4th when hit 3 out, weakened next
raced wide, in touch, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, blundered last, stayed on again flat
Challengers may include Sou'Wester and Mizen Raven but we'll take WARPATH to go in again having scored in his last two races. The in-form Warpath has to shoulder a 7lb penalty for a one length success over two miles five here last time and has to conclusively prove his stamina for this longer trip. However, he shapes as though he'll stay this far, he's in the form of his life at present and he's now won on two of his three runs here. Psychomodo is capable on his day but is hard to predict and The Duke's Speech may offer the value each-way if a switch of yards helps him to recapture his best form. The pick of Oscar Boy's form entitles him to respect whilst Sou'Wester has been a decent money spinner for his connections over the seasons but was a long way behind Warpath at Ludlow in April. Mizen Raven should go well but it's a concern that he's only won once having finished runner-up on no fewer than five occasions and we prefer to side with a proven winner in Warpath despite slight concerns about his stamina.
Psychomodo 33-1 (11-7) Led, headed 10th, lost place 13th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Postmaster (10-9) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Apr.
Oscar Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Pushed along towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Picture This (10-7) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gd, 21 ran.
Warpath (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, jumped left 1st, challenging when mistake 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating Prince Des Marais (10-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
Sou'wester 2-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 5th, headway 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened flat, 6th of 8, 12l behind Warpath (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Apr.
Mizen Raven (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, chased leaders 3 out, soon hard ridden, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 7l behind De Soto (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Free Gift 25-1 (11-1) In rear, mistake 2nd, pulled up before next, in a race won by Warpath (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 13 ran.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up in touch, left 2nd after 4th, challenged after 3 out, every chance between last 2, ridden and stayed on same pace flat, no impression, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Along The Nile (11-8) at Hexham 2m sell hdl (5) gd.
Dennis The Legend 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, outpaced 21st, headway to chase leaders when mistake 4 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd after last, no impression with leading pair, 3rd of 18, 17l behind Martha's Kinsman (11-0) at Cheltenham 4m 1f hts chs (4) gd.
