held up in rear, steady headway from 4 out, went 3rd soon after 3 out, kept on, never a factor
tracked leader, led 5th, ridden 3 out, stayed on strongly
keen, led, headed 5th, chased winner until 11th, moderate 3rd when blundered 3 out, soon lost 3rd place and weakened
always in rear, weakened 11th
tracked leaders, improved to chase winner 12th, ridden 4 out, no impression from 2 out
keen, held up, mistake 4th, improved to 3rd 8th, chased winner 11th until next, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
A return to fences and three miles may see NAGAM in the winners' enclosure; the one to follow him home may be Ibberton although one might wonder whether this track will play to his strengths. The selection was disappointing on his final start last season, finishing a well-beaten eighth behind At The Money at Market Rasen. Today he returns to fences over three miles and he looks sure to run well with Timmy Murphy taking over in the saddle. Cold Mountain is visored as he searches for a first win since June. He has worn the cheek-pieces on his last three starts but to little effect. Top Dressing is another whose latest efforts have been below par; one wouldn¿t have thought that fitness would be the excuse as he has run well fresh in the past and so he has a little to prove now. Nesnaas is creeping back to a tasty mark, Ibberton stays all day and looks likely to try and make this a test of stamina, whilst Rudivale's comeback run at Exeter over hurdles was very promising indeed and he looks attractively handicapped. An open finale where nothing looks too rock solid, however we are happy to stick with Nagam.
Top Dressing (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 13, 38l behind Kells Castle (10-9) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Sep.
Nagam (FR) 4-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, struggling from 3rd, 8th of 10, well behind At The Money (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Behind, headway from 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 11, 14l behind Milesian King (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Nesnaas (USA) 20-1 (11-9) Prominent, weakened from 10th, 6th of 10, 21l behind Roussea (9-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
Ibberton 7-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led after 10th, ridden clear approaching 4 out, stayed on strongly, won at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating Mister Apple's (10-9) by 40l, 7 ran.
Rudivale (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Poor visibility over 1st 3 hurdles and again over 4th and 5th, held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 7l behind Bubbs (10-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
