soon chasing leader, led last, kept on well
held up, pushed along approaching 8th, never dangerous
held up in touch, effort when hit 3 out, one pace
led, headed last, one pace
held up in touch, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, weakened from 3 out
held up, ridden 4 out, weakened next
held up, some headway 9th, behind when fell 3 out
Plenty of in-form contenders here and from a shortlist of Russian Flag, TARABALOO, Kikos and Leopold, it is Richard Guest's mare Tarabaloo who is preferred. The selection comes here on the back of a win over this course and distance and has a 5lb rise in the weights for that success. Her earlier run behind Peter Pole reads well and now that she has got her head in-front once again she can progress from here. Russian Flag is very consistent but now racing off a mark of 117 he may struggle to get his head back in-front, so a bigger threat could be recent winner Leopold who romped home recently at Fakenham but his runs on a right-handed track do not quite compare. Kikos has been holding his form well this year and only went down by the narrowest of margins last time at Hereford. He has been bumped up 5lb for that near miss and although he goes well on good or faster ground he may now be high enough in the weights. King Troy, back from a break, and course winner Sycho Fred both need respect, but it is Tarabaloo who is nominated.
King Troy (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Mid-division, hit 4th, lost place after 8th, 6th of 8, well behind Master Medic (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Russian Flag (FR) 3-1 (10-6) Held up, raced keenly, headway 4th, went 2nd 7th, led going well before 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, found little last, hung right and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-135) (3) gs.
Tarabaloo 7-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, led after 4 out, jumped left 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Mizen Raven (11-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Kikos (FR) 10-3fav (11-5) Led, ridden clear after 2 out, mistake last and out-battled and headed close home, 2nd of 10, shd behind Battlefield (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Imminent Victory 17-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, blundered 1st, jumped slowly next, not fluent 6th, weakened approaching 8th, behind when pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Rash Moment (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Leopold (SLO) 8-1 (10-11) Close up, mistake 8th, chased leader 12th, led 2 out, left clear last, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd beating Gus (10-11) by 21l, 12 ran.
Anglicisme (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 6th of 7, 21l behind Super Baby (11-3) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Held up, chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon ridden, went 3rd approaching 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Tarabaloo (10-2) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
