led very steady pace and pulled hard, headed approaching 3rd, lost place before 2 out, never a danger after
held up in rear but in touch, effort before 2 out, never on terms
pulled hard and prominent, never jumped well, led after 2nd, headed 4th, soon led again, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led before last, ridden clear
in touch, driven and headway approaching last, soon chasing winner, kept on
raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 4th, soon headed, led approaching 2 out, headed before last, weakened flat
Freedom Fire could be of interest first time out over timber for Gary Moore and has to be respected but preference is for the French raider SPUNK, who gets the vote with Evening Sunset rated the best of the rest. The selection was outclassed in a Grade 1 hurdle at Auteuil last month and Francois Doumen's colt looks worth chancing in this company, receiving weight from his main rival. Peter Winkworth's Foxtrot Charlie only got as far as the fourth flight on his debut and looks best watched at present, while Paul Howling's Supernoverre was well held on his Huntingdon debut. Tony Carroll's Troubletimestwo has run to a respectable level of form and has to be considered but he keeps on finding at least one too good and is likely to do so again. Evening Sunset was nothing out of the ordinary on the flat but has already shown a decent level of form over hurdles with convincing wins at Plumpton and Fakenham in his two starts but this is tougher under his penalties and preference is for Spunk.
Evening Sunset (GER) 13-8 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 6th, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Fakenham 2m juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (4) gd in Nov beating Luthien (10-12) by 8l, 9 ran.
Foxtrot Charlie 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, fell 4th, in a race won by Ultimate (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Freedom Fire (IRE) 7-2fav (9-1) Close up, effort to have every chance when hung right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Dinner Date (9-7) at Kempton 1m hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct (flat).
Spunk (FR) (10-5) 6th of 12, 31l behind Prince Oui Oui (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f hdl gs in Nov.
Supernoverre (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced after 5th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, went moderate 3rd after last, 3rd of 11, 28l behind Ultimate (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Troubletimestwo (FR) 13-8fav (11-4) Prominent, pushed along approaching 6th, soon outpaced, headway after 2 out, staying on when hampered last, just held near finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind Prince Pippin (10-5) at Plumpton 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd in Nov.
