mid-division, fell 3rd
tracked leader, led 7th, stumbled and unseated rider 3 out
tracked leader, left in lead 3 out, ridden and all out when headed close home
held up, mistake 6th, headway and mistake 8th, ridden next, weakened soon after 3 out
in touch, ridden and weakening when mistake 4 out
keen in touch, pulled up after 5th
led, headed 7th, weakened and behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up, steady headway 3 out, going well when not fluent last, led close home, easy
COLONIAL JIM looks to be ahead of the handicapper and can make hay before he's reassessed. Ice Melted should be a factor and Silver Bay cannot be ignored. Colonial Jim was having his first run since Neil Mulholland took over the reins from Paul Keane and landed a decent touch in decent fashion at Fontwell with the field well strung out behind. The quick reappearance is always a worry but he's clearly well ahead of the handicapper and should take the beating. There are one or two unexposed runners in the field to muddy the picture and they include Silver Bay who qualified for a mark with a run round here over two and a half miles and he looks capable of making further progress. Cannon Fire produced a better effort last time and isn't too badly treated but a bigger threat could come from Ice Melted who has won over fences at the track. He has yet to make the frame over hurdles but is handicapped accordingly and looks capable of winning a race of this nature from his current mark. However, the selection appears to be well ahead of the game and it's hard to get away from Colonial Jim.
Silver Bay 33-1 (11-0) In touch, 2nd briefly after 7th, stayed on same pace approaching last, regained 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Ballykelly (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Snake Charmer 8-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 17l behind Mickmacmagoole (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Cannon Fire (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Take A Mile (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Hareem (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 14, well behind Miss Tarantella (9-11) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Barrys Ark (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Prominent, mistake 3rd, dropped rear after 7th, 6th and in touch when fell at the 11th in race won by Just Jaffa (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Ice Melted (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 7th, left 4th 3 out, soon ridden, weakened quickly, 6th of 14, well behind Bally Conn (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Tudor Buck (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, raced keenly, behind from 5th, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Sexy Rexy (11-11) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Colonial Jim (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) Mid-division, steady headway 4 out, chased leader 3 out, switched right and led last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs beating Orchard House (11-1) by 8l, 15 ran.