close up, led 5th, headed 7th, led again 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened last
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway 10th, led approachin 2 out, shaken up flat cheekily
held up, headway approaching 10th, lost place 3 out
led to 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up, hit 2nd, mistake 3rd, headway 5th, led 7th, headed 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader, hit 1st and 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 10th
in touch, headway approaching 2 out, every chance last, not quicken flat
BREEDSBREEZE could be quite a short price but one worth taking, and is the selection ahead of Crow Wood and Nikola. Forget his disappointing run at Cheltenham, he has raced and won in much better company than this when landing the Tolworth at Sandown in January. Nikola has to try and defy top weight, but did just that to win at Uttoxeter earlier in the year. Tom Molloy takes off a more than useful five pounds though. This is a step back in trip from his last three runs, which have been disappointing, albeit against more illustrious rivals. A consistent sort, he'll have his supporters. Crow Wood is likely to be backed too; rated 140 when last winning two years ago the old boy has more than repaid connections and backers over the years. It's the longest trip he's ever faced, but he could stay on for minor honours.
Nikola (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led halfway, headed before 3 out, soon ridden, kept on until weakened flat, 5th of 8, 16l behind My Turn Now (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (2) gd in Sept.
Andytown (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway and effort 3 out, every chance when hit next, edged right and one pace flat, 3rd of 15, 6l behind The Great Alfie (10-11) at Perth 3m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Breedsbreeze (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, weakened after next, 10th of 15, well behind Fiveforthree (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Crow Wood 33-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 2 out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 8th of 28, 4l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar '07.
Rightway Star (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leader until 4th, weakened after 6th, 7th of 10, 9l behind Irish Legend (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Sept.
Sea Senor 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 4 out, 8th of 12, well behind Bene Lad (10-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Apr.
Sir Monty (USA) 28-1 (11-5) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 8, well behind Cool Operator (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Sept.
Supreme Leisure (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Prominent to 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Dream Garden (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft, 9 ran.
Safari Run (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) Always behind, lost touch halfway, 5th of 7, 39l behind Premier Dane (10-12) at Perth 2m nov chs (4) gf in Jul.
