with leaders until approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up, some headway when mistakes 7th, no danger after
held up, slipped up bend after 2nd
prominent, led approaching 3 out, soon headed, still every chance when ran out 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden 2 out, no extra flat
held up in touch, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off
led 1st, prominent until after 3rd, behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner
held up in touch, headway 6th, led 3 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, no extra flat
held up, mistake 3rd, headway 4th, prominent when blundered and unseated rider 6th
in touch, ridden and weakened when hampered 6th
hampered bend after 2nd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, kept on flat
led 2nd, mistake 4th, headed approaching 3 out, behind when hit 2 out
held up, slightly hampered bend after 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, led 2 out, soon ridden and headed, one pace
held up, some headway when mistake 7th, behind when jumped left 2 out
mid-division, headway after 7th, in touch when fell 3 out
brought down, held up, brought down bend after 2nd
held up, headway after 5th, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway after 7th, led after 2 out, soon ridden, clear last, ran on well
You could make a case out for a number of these in this competitive finale to day one of the Open Meeting and we will take Freedom Now to defy topweight and complete a fantastic five-timer, with Blue Americo, Direct Flight and Yourman likely to emerge as the main rivals. Freedom Now is no good thing, despite those impressive form figures, as lumping 11st 12lb around Cheltenham has posed problems for better horses than him. However, he is improving, stays well, loves this decent ground, and has bags of confidence at present, and he can raise his game again to take this. Blue Americo is arguably well handicapped with the selection here, and he too is getting better. A faller when looking likely to challenge the winner last time, if he can put that behind him then he won't be too far away again, and he can give the selection most to do. Direct Flight is another going the right way and Noel Chance is a past master at placing his runners to good effect and running up a sequence. A winner at both Kelso and Fakenham already this autumn, he has not found a serious challenger in either contest and it will be a surprise if he is not bang there at the last. Of the remainder, Moscow Whisper will win more but will have to improve to land this, while Yourman finally got off the mark at Chepstow last time out and with trip and ground to suit again here, he can make his presence felt. Even so, Freedom Now is in the form of his life and he can complete the nap hand here.
