Expert Analysis

This was a strongly-run race which ultimately proved to be to the advantage of those that had been held up well off the pace. Certainly, the three prominent runners that managed to complete the race all finished very tired from the second last fence (usual third last). In addition, both the first two horses to finish prefer decent ground to show their best thus adding plenty of substance to the notion that the going was much quicker than advertised. This is important information as the form book will suggest that the winner has won over an extreme distance whilst competing on a soft surface which I doubt very much is the case.

MARBLE SANDS He came into this race with his stamina to prove so it was no surprise to see him held up out the back for the first half of the contest. Protektorat set a searching gallop and was a long way in front of this eventual winner even leaving the back straight for the final time. Marble Sands was well on top at the finish and the horse to chase him home was settled even further back than this winner. Consequently, one would suggest that the leaders went too quickly before tiring badly leaving the door open for the extreme hold up horses to come through late and pick up the pieces.

FASCILE MODE He made up a tremendous amount of ground on the three prominently ridden horses from two out (usual three out) to the line and thus offered further substance to the notion that the leaders went faster than ideal. His presence in second spot also adds more evidence to the supposition that the ground was on the quicker side of good to soft rather than the official description of soft all round.

PROTEKTORAT Not for the first time he raced in a very keen manner in the early stages on his seasonal debut. He set a very strong gallop and has probably done well to hang on for third place at the finish. Even more so when one considers that he was conceding the best part of two stone to the winner and runner up. He is a classy individual, and we will hopefully see him settle better next time with this run behind him.

BEAUPORT He is not a horse known for his battling qualities and always strikes me as being more likely to finish thereabouts in a very good race rather than get his head in front in a slightly lesser one. He hit the front with two to jump (usual three to jump) and maybe found himself in a battle earlier than ideal. He has still performed well considering the drying ground was less in his favour compared with the first two to finish.

TANGANYIKA The Venetia Williams horses are yet to get going this season and perhaps this factor is the main reason for him dropping away in the closing stages. He remains a horse to be interested in when competing over extreme distances on softer ground than he encountered here.

TRANSMISSION After being heavily supported in the market, his lack of fluency over his fences once again restricted his chances of getting competitive.

NASSALAM The drying ground would not have been for him. On balance, therefore, I would suggest that he has performed well for half of the race. The obvious target for him is a repeat bid for the Welsh Grand National which he won in 2023.