held up, headway 11th, chased winner next, one pace approaching last
close up, ridden 3 out, one pace
always in rear, tailed off 10th, very tired from 3 out
made all, clear 4th, ridden approaching last, kept on
held up, slipped up on bend after 8th
tracked leader until mistake 5 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, driven along from 8th, weakened 10th, pulled up before 3 out
Marvellous Dream merits respect but preference is for Ruairi with Iconoclast best of the remainder. The selection has been set some stiff tasks in his three outings over fences but has emerged with credit on each occasion and should be able to take advantage now that his sights have been lowered. Ground and trip should cause no problem and he faces nothing of the quality of Oslot whom he chased home at Exeter last time. Marvellous Dream is related to a useful chaser and has to be feared with her yard going so well but the lack of experience and a run means that she's opposed unless the market speaks strongly in her favour. Iconoclast had done enough to suggest that he could win a race prior to his latest start where he had little chance of winning but it was still disappointing how far he was beaten. The heavy ground may have been to blame and he should fare better but for the winner we return to Ruairi.
Iconoclast (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Held up, led approaching 8th, not fluent 10th, headed after 2 out, blundered last, soon weakened, last of 3, 32l behind Antonius Caesar (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) hvy.
Iris De Balme (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Shardakhan (11-11) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft, 12 ran.
Master Alf (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led until headed and mistake 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Air Force One (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs, 10 ran.
Ruairi (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Led, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, headed before last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Oslot (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft.
Selfcertified 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Turbulance (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft, 11 ran.
Moshahed 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next, 6th of 12, 20l behind Dr Hart (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f nh mdn hdl (3) gf in Dec.
Marvellous Dream (FR) 15-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 6th, pulled up before 9th (lame) pulled up 3 out in race won by Ouh Jay (10-11) at Ludlow 3m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
