Reporter: Simon Rowlands
Back-to-back wins in this race for Pic d’Orhy, who is high-class (and somewhat under-rated) under these sorts of conditions, though he was assisted this time by the non-performance of L’Homme Presse and the under-performance to varying degrees of his remaining rivals. He set quite a strong pace, which had the rest in trouble some way out, his final 4f of 60.58s on good to soft ground (on times) prompting a 98.8% finishing speed. The first fence in the back straight was omitted.
PIC D’ORHY (c166 here and previously) is high-class at around 20f and has built up a fine record at this course, which seems to suit his style. This was as convincing as he’s ever been, notwithstanding limitations in his rivals on the day, as he made just about all, soon a few lengths up and setting a strong pace, jumping well bar a slight mistake 6 out and drawing clear after the third-last, having something to spare. He is a Grade 1 winner at Aintree and a trip back there seems an obvious mid-range target.
CORBETTS CROSS (c157 here, 163 previously) has been slightly underwhelming in his first season out of the novice division, for all that his Wexford second on his return reads OK, and performed just respectably here against a specialist 20f chaser, close up initially but tending to jump a bit awkwardly and gradually outpaced from halfway, merely keeping on. He should be suited by a return to 3m+ but is not looking out of the top drawer at present.
BLUE LORD (c154 here, 159? previously) is knocking on now and this may be about as good as he is these days at a trip that is at his upper limit, held up and travelling well for a long way but unable to make any further impression late on.
FLEGMATIK (c123 here, 130 previously)
LE PATRON (c0 here, 152 previously) was in trouble by halfway and is proving less than consistent.
L’HOMME PRESSE (c0 here, 163 previously) went as if something was amiss, making a couple of mistakes and lugging left before losing touch and being pulled up before halfway.
