made all, jinked approaching 3rd, blundered 6th, clear when hit last, pushed out
tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, always held
in touch, chased leaders after 3 out, one pace from next
in rear, mistakes, soon struggling, tailed off from 5th
held up, jumped slowly 4th, struggling approaching 5th
tracked winner, ridden and weakened afer 3 out, beaten when fell next
held up towards rear when fell 1st
The opener can go to ALAZAN, while Troubletimestwo and Fong's Alibi can go well. The Philip Hobbs-trained selection achieved a flat rating of 74 in Ireland and probably translated that ability to something like its National Hunt equivalent when going close at Perth on his hurdling debut last month. A sound or fast surface should suit and this minimum trip should prove ideal, so we will side with him. Troubletimestwo finished five lengths in arrears of Zepnove over 2m 3f at Fontwell last time and is the only runner here to have received an official BHA assessment, with the handicapper rating him 102. The ground will suit, and there is no reason why the shorter trip should be a problem, so from that sort of mark he is respected. Stan Moore has his runners in good form and Fong's Alibi looks the most interesting of the debutants here. Rated 65 on the level, she won a fast ground Nottingham claimer over 1m 1f in August, and she should be ideal for this sort of distance over timber, so it would be no surprise to see her go very close. Who Art Thou departed far too early in that same race as Troubletimestwo at Fontwell to tell what sort of ability he has over the sticks, but he is worth a market check this time. Alazan is the one for us.
Alazan (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on flat, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Tillietudlem (11-5) at Perth 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Coeur Brule (FR) 80-1 (8-7) In touch, until weakened over 2f out, 9th of 14, 20l behind Perception (9-4) at Kempton 2m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Sep (flat).
Troubletimestwo (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, jumped right 1st, headway approaching 3 out, every chance after 3 out when bumped, hanging left before 2 out, no impression on winner from last, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Zepnove (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Who Art Thou (USA) 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 1st, jumped left and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Zepnove (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Sep, 10 ran.
Fong's Alibi 6-4fav (8-8) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 3rd of 4, 14l behind Buddhist Monk (9-10) at Brighton 1m 2f clm stks (6) fm in Sep (flat).
Second To Nun (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) In touch, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Seasonal Cross (9-7) at Bath 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fm in Sep (flat).
Southoffrance (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Jumped poorly in rear, blundered 1st, wandered badly before 3rd, lost touch 5th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Riptide (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gf, 9 ran.
