chased leading pair until badly outpaced after 13th, rallied after 3 out, went 3rd at last, no chance with front pair
led to 3rd, chased leader, reminders 11th, lost 2nd after 4 out, 3rd and held when blundered badly 2 out, not recover
led 3rd, hit 9th, ridden and joined last, headed flat, no extra
not fluent, held up, weakened after 4 out, no chance when fell 2 out
held up in 4th, not fluent 10th, tracked leader after 4 out, challenged last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well
took keen hold, held up, headway into 3rd after 13th, pushed along, one pace and held when slithered on landing 3 out and pulled up
This looks a poor contest and looks to provide Chris Gordon's ABSOLUTE SHAMBLES an ideal opportunity to open his account and he gets the vote ahead of Brimham Boy and Rojabaa. The Ron Hodges-trained gelding has been brought to chasing late on his career at the age of 10 but ran creditably in a handicap at Plumpton recently off a mark of just 69 and he has to be considered. Dusk has shown little worthwhile form over hurdles for Evan Williams and the gelding broke a blood vessel when pulled up at Huntingdon earlier this month on his chasing debut and now looks best watched. Neil Mulholland's Hobb's Dream has been well beaten in all six starts and of more interest may be Stockton Flyer, who has gone better in his last two starts over fences and he makes plenty of appeal. Brimham Boy, who represents the in-form yard of Martin Keighley, is probably better than we have seen of him previously and he has to be considered. The selection though is Absolute Shambles, who won a novices' handicap hurdle in good fashion in June and made a pleasing start to his chasing career when finding just Ballygulleen too good at Wincanton last month. He can go one better today.
Absolute Shambles 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 14th, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Ballygulleen (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Stockton Flyer 7-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 13, 40l behind Classic Clover (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Oct.
Brimham Boy 33-1 (11-9) Chased leader to 3rd, prominent, hit 8th, weakened and mistake 4 out, 6th of 14, 37l behind Mr Big (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (0-90) (5) gd in Jan.
Hobb's Dream (IRE) 150-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden 8th, weakened next, 8th of 13, 38l behind Boomtown Kat (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Dusk 14-1 (10-8) Towards rear, hampered bend after 7th, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by R'Cam (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gd, 14 ran.
Rojabaa 16-1 (9-12) Held up and keen, headway 13th, joined leader 3 out, led next, headed approaching last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind You Can Of Course (10-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
