chased leaders, pushed along 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner when hit last, no impression
held up and not fluent, pushed along halfway, never dangerous
held up, headway after 9th, ridden 11th, hit 12th, soon struggling
prominent, mistake 9th (water), led after 4 out, soon ridden, stumbled 3 out, drew clear flat
held up, ridden after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression
prominent, blundered 7th, hit next lost place after 9th, pulled up before 12th
chased leader until after 2 out, weakened after last
led, blundered 4 out, soon headed and weakened
in touch, lost place halfway, soon struggling
In the day's feature race, Leading Man is selected ahead of Wild Cane Ridge and Snakebite. All eyes will be on Turpin Green here who looked very impressive when thrashing subsequent dual big-handicap winner Exotic Dancer on his seasonal return but who was then disappointing in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Wild Cane Ridge stays well and will relish the underfoot conditions, as evidenced by his Tommy Whittle second over course and distance last time. There is no doubt that Leading Man's Rowland Meyrick win marked him down as an upwardly-mobile staying chaser and such credentials make him the one to beat, for us, today, even though Truckers Tavern is ten pounds better off for nine lengths based on the form of that race. The Outlier's course and distance second in The Last Fling Chase last time marks him down as one who could bag some money, while Snakebite lines up as a promising novice from a stable that knows the time of day. Irish Raptor is having a good season and, being at the right end of the weights, a good run is not ruled out, but Strong Resolve is six pounds out of the weights, which could work against him. Once again, then, the selection is Leading Man.
Turpin Green (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Behind until pulled up at the 12th in race won by State of Play (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 10th and 14th, soon ridden, headway 2 out, stayed on gamely to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Kandjar D'allier (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Leading Man (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 6th, led 13th to 14th, soon ridden, led after 4 out, jumped right 3 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec beating Sir Rembrandt (11-9) by 8l, 10 ran.
The Outlier (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 8th, took close order 13th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Sharp Belline (10-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Truckers Tavern (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Towards rear, mistake 7th, pushed along 11th, headway 2 out, stayed on, never dangerous, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Leading Man (10-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Model Son (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Always behind, 14th of 15, well behind D'Argent (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
Snakebite (IRE) 8-13fav (11-0) Made all, jumped left 4th, hit 8th, clear after 3 out, ridden out, won at Folkestone 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft in Dec beating Iris De Balme (11-0) by 6l, 12 ran.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Led 4th, driven, mistake and headed 2 out, rallied gamely under pressure flat, just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Tango Royal (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Strong Resolve (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Led to 9th, chased leader from 12th until weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 14, 18l behind Kandjar D'allier (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
