soon led, keen, mistake 5th, headed next, led again after 8th, headed 10th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led 6th, headed after 8th, weakened before 5 out
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, led 10th, hit 5 out, clear before next, very easily
held up in touch, headway 5 out, soon chasing clear winner. stayed on approaching last, no impression
tracked leader, mistake 9th, soon ridden, effort 3 out, never able to challenge
Aikman was a decent novice a couple of years ago and market interest would be significant as he's been dropped 10lb since his last run. Strobe looks to be in the handicapper's grip now, however, while Diamond Frontier was soon back-pedalling at Wetherby last month though is back on a winning mark. A repeat of QUITO DU TRESOR's third to Sergeant Pink at Perth in August would probably suffice here and he can end a long losing run off an 11lb lower mark than successful at Ascot two years ago. Father Shine won here in December last year but is still 5lb higher.
Aikman (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Led 1st, tracked clear leader, lost 2nd at 10th, headway 5 out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Quentin Collonges (10-9) at Doncaster 3m beg chase (4) gd in Feb '12.
Diamond Frontier (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, weakened before 4 out, 7th of 10, 23l behind Lucky Landing (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway before 3 out, no impression, 8th of 10, well behind Raajih (11-1) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Sep.
Father Shine (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Held up, not fluent 3rd, mistake 6th, brought down 8th, in a race won by Sergeant Pink (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Sep, 9 ran.
Strobe 7-1 (11-2) Led until before 4th, stayed 2nd, not fluent 8th or 2 out, soon lost place, weakened flat, 6th of 7, 20l behind Rossini's Dancer (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
