chased leader, led 12th to after 13th, led approaching 3 out, soon in command, pushed clear easily
prominent, hit 1st, reminder 10th, weakened next
in touch, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace
led, mistake 12th and headed, led 13th, blundered 3 out, pecked 2 out, no chance with winner
held up, blundered 13th, ridden and challenged 4 out, no chance after
mid-division, lost touch after 13th, never on terms
Having tended to find at least one too good, Commemoration Day gained a deserved first success over fences when taking a novice chase at Stratford last month but the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding may have to settle for minor honours again in this better race behind BREEDSBREEZE, who gets the vote with Ring The Boss rated the pick of the remainder. The selection showed a decent level of form over timber last term, most notably when landing the Tolworth Hurdle, and created a favourable impression on his chasing debut when winning a shade cleverly at Bangor last month. There should be plenty more to come from the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding and he is taken to follow up that Bangor success today on ground that suits. Alan King's Sir Harry Ormesher got the better of Straw Bear on his chasing debut at Exeter but may be flattered by that as the runner up is better on a flat track. Keith Goldsworthy¿s Hold Em was good value for his win at Huntingdon last time but this looks tougher and of more interest may be Ring The Boss. Philip Hobbs has his string in good heart at present and this son of Kahyasi has further confirmed that with a decent success at Cheltenham last month on his reappearance. He has to be respected but preference is for Breedsbreeze, who may be too classy for his rivals. (Nick Millard)
Breedsbreeze (IRE) 1-2fav (11-2) Held up, headway 10th, led approachin 2 out, shaken up flat cheekily, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct beating Safari Run (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Commemoration Day (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Held up, closed 8th, ridden after 3 out, responded to pressure approaching last, soon led, stayed on, won at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (3) gf in Oct beating Sound Accord (10-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
Hold Em (IRE) 7-4jt-fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, soon tracking leaders, jumped left 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gs beating Mount Oscar (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ring The Boss (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Chased leader, led approaching 8th, strongly pressed when left clear 2 out, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct beating Sternenzelt (10-13) by 6l, 6 ran.
Sir Harry Ormesher 12-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 5th, challenged 4 out, soon ridden, led approaching last, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Oct beating Straw Bear (11-2) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Oncle Kid (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Mid-division, not fluent 8th, weakened approaching 10th, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Irish Wolf (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in Jun '07, 11 ran.
