This race is guaranteed to be a thorough slog and jumping will play a major part throughout. The betting market suggests this is a tight heat and there is plenty of form to support this claim. Just three of eight in the line-up have won over this distance before and only two at this course. However, there is often one horse who benefits from an extreme test of stamina and this race could bring about a significant improver now going up in trip.
Tom Sayers represents in-form Philip Hobbs and Tom O'Brien and has strong claims on making it five wins at this course. A winner of this race two years ago, he was off the track for a year before re-appearing at Newbury in February where he pulled up but put up a much better performance at the Berkshire track in March over three miles to finish fifth. Now 11-years-old, he is not improving but is more than capable on his day, particularly with the faster ground strongly in his favour. The only issue is that he carries near top-weight of 11st 11lbs and may find it beyond him after just two runs behind him after his setback.
Presenting Express has a good chance if fit enough after his recent second at Huntingdon in March, which was his just his second start a lenghty absence. He is a very strong stayer and has a good win ratio over fences, winning five of 16 races. He relishes fast ground and has often put up his best performances when he has this key element in his favour. He has a similar profile to Tom Sayers being that he is 10-years-old and is returning from a lay-off but has a nice racing weight of 11st when taking into account Jack Doyle's three pound claim. Emma Lavelle is a very good trainer and places her horses well so Presenting Express should go well if he is ready to go over this marathon distance.
Very Cool has been performing well over fences this seasons, which was underlined with a nice win at Newbury in February. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the step up in trip and this quicker surface will help his cause. One worry will be that he has quite a bit to find with the first two mentioned but being only eight-years-old, he could well find the improvement required now stepped up in distance by trainer David Pipe.
College Ace has a chance based on his recent win at Stratford over just short of three miles, where he routed the opposition to win by 15 lengths. His trainer Pauline Robeson has been in superb form of late and saddled Ogee to spring a shock in at Aintree in a valuable hurdles race. A reservation for College Ace would be that he failed to see out this trip when he attempted it in 2007, where he finished tailed off. Also, most of his winning form has come on a softer surface so this fast ground is likely to be against him.
Fine By Me is an interesting runner for Sue Smith and will stay this distance having won over further in the past. He has a few pounds to find with the market leaders but again, he is another who will appreciate this faster surface. I Hear Thunder is a course and distance winner but has found winning difficult as he has only won four of his 49 races. He is a thorough stayer and should go well for Harry Skelton. Hello Bud is worth a mention for Nigel Twiston-Davies as he has is sure to stay this long distance. He looks handicapped to his best at present though and will find the ground against him.
Selections: 1st - Presenting Express, 2nd - Tom Sayers, 3rd - Fine By Me.
Result: 1st - Hello Bud, 9/1, 2nd - College Ace, 6/1, 3rd - I Hear Thunder, 4/1.
As expected, this race was a dour test of stamina right from the off and interest dampened when Presenting Express was withdrawn by Emma Lavelle. Hello Bud produced a superb performance under David England as he made every yard of the running and jumped big and bold over every obstacle. He kicked for home rounding the final bend and had all of his rivals under pressure with two fences to jump. He winged the final two and began to tire going to the last but always had the race in the bag after an enterprising ride from his young jockey. College Ace ran well for Sam Jones in second, staying on well towards the end. I Hear Thunder travelled well for Harry Skelton and looked a danger to the eventual winner but his run petered out after he found little off the bridle. As stated in the preview, Very Cool failed to see out the trip and made too many errors to get close to the leader, even though he was well supported beforehand. Tom Sayers put in a very moody performance, throwing the towel in early and jumping sloppily. He held his head high throughout and looked reluctant once asked to stay on so he looks one to avoid from now on. Fine By Me had solid form coming into the race but was under pressure from an early stage and never threatened.
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