raced wide, tracked leaders, led 3 out, driven between last 2, headed last, rallied gamely under pressure run-in
raced on inside, led until headed 3 out, weakened quickly, mistake last
raced wide, held up in touch, headway on bit on outside to track leaders 5th, chased leader 2 out, led last, driven and held on well run-in
held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, headway under pressure to chase leading pair 2 out until mstake and weakened last
chased leaders, hit 4th, weakened 3 out, well beaten when jumped left last
raced on inside, held up well in rear, some headway on outside approaching 3 out, plenty to do next, headway and switched left approaching last, went 3rd and mistake last
raced on inside, chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened after next
raced on inside, tracked leader, mistake and weakened 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in last pair, driven along before 3 out, beaten when mistake next
raced on inside, held up, headway 4th, mistake and weakened 3 out
Is It Me won five on the bounce finding Katchit nine lengths too good at Market Rasen in September and Alan King's gelding, who lost no caste in defeat behind the potentially useful Degas Art at Wetherby subsequently, is taken to win again with the main danger rated Prince Ary. The last mentioned lacks any hurdling experience but teh Pipe yard has a tremendous record at this meeting and this useful flat performer cannot be ruled out on his hurdling debut. Total Victory has a progressive profile but needs to improve again to trouble the judge, while Freeze The Flame is clearly better over hurdles than on the flat but is another that needs to improve. Marc of Brilliance is another worthy of consideration but Katchit has an obvious chance and he gets the vote.
Freeze The Flame (GER) 4-6fav (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, soon well clear, very easily, won at Cheltenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Lord Adonis (10-7) by 13l, 9 ran.
Is It Me (USA) 4-9fav (11-5) Led, headed and blundered 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Katchit (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (2) gd in Sept.
Katchit (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 3 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Degas Art (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (1) sft in Oct.
Marc of Brilliance (USA) 12-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway 4th, ridden to chase winner from 2 out, hung left after last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Total Victory (11-0) at Aintree 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Total Victory (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Prominent, led from 2nd, clear approaching 6 out, soon reduced lead, slight mistake 2 out, kept on well, won at Cork 2m 3yo hdl gs beating Rusty Red (11-3) by 1l, 9 ran.
Cheveley Flyer 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, steady headway approaching 4th, led approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Pocket Too (10-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Decree Nisi 9-2 (10-7) In touch and keen, mistake 2nd, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, bumped on bend approaching last, headed and one pace, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Pukka Tique (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Keel (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Rear of mid-division, headway into moderate 8th approaching 3 out, soon no impression under pressure, 10th of 18, well behind Victoria Night (10-0) at Thurles 2m 3yo mdn hdl gs in Oct.
Pigeon Island 5-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, disputed lead from over 5f out until hampered 2f out, soon lost place, 10th of 13, 10l behind Cantabilly (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct (Flat).
Prince Ary 10-1 (8-11) Close up, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Abhisheka (9-8) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct (Flat).
