held up, headway 3rd to track leader, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 4th, ridden to track leader 5th, led approaching last, ran on well
tracked leader to 3rd, weakened next
held up, headway 4th, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace flat
prominent, chased leaders 3rd, weakened approaching 5th
behind, slow jump 1st, not fluent 2nd, headway after 4th, ridden and weakened next, soon tailed off
Gregorian should be up to completing a hat-trick at the expense of Devote, and as Paul Nicholls does not have many in sellers, Fruit Defendu is also worth a mention. A winner on the Flat, over hurdles and fences in Ireland, Gregorian has proved to be only plating class since coming over here, and it is at that level that John O'Shea's charge has returned to form lately. A win at Leicester was followed more recently by an all-the-way victory here at Chepstow where it has to be said that his jumping left a lot to be desired, but there was no doubting his gameness, and a similar effort may see him defy a penalty. The locals will be cheering on Devote, who jumped well when winning at Taunton nine days ago. If that was no flash in the pan then Jimmy Frost's six-year-old should make a race of it with the selection. Fruit Defendu has not improved at all since leaving Noel Meade and was well beaten at Taunton recently when sent off as favourite on the strength of a fair effort at Hereford the time before. He is not one to trust but it would be no surprise if he were to run well, given the nature of this race, but Gregorian makes much more appeal and is the selection.
