tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led before next, pressed last, ran on well
tracked leaders, took keen hold, closed 2 out, challenged last, edged left flat, held towards finish
led, awkward landing 2nd, headed before 2 out, not pace of front pair last
Railroad Junkie unseated at the first at Kempton last time and is 8lb higher than when scoring at Warwick before that. Capeland put a string of placed efforts behind to open his account over fences with a victory over 2m4f here recently and an earlier success over hurdles also came over a longer trip. But PEPPAY LE PUGH won over 2m at Worcester before finding life tough in subsequent starts at Ascot and Cheltenham and it’s Dan Skelton’s charge that gets the vote to come out best over today’s trip.
Capeland (FR) 11-4 (12-1) Held up in touch on inside, not fluent 8th, steady headway approaching 4 out, 3rd soon after, challenged out wide at the last, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Buster Thomas (11-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Peppay Le Pugh (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, driven to chase leaders when left 3rd next, ridden and kept on same pace, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 7, 11 3/4l behind Bun Doran (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Railroad Junkie (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up, unseated rider 1st, at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Nov.