close up, headway 12th, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, chased leader 13th, ridden to lead last, ran on
tracked leader, not fluent and soon lost place, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, pushed along and lost ground 9th, very slow next, struggling from 13th, tailed off
in rear well of the pace, struggling from 10th, pulled up soon after 12th
in touch, headway 12th, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
made most until ridden and headed last, kept on one pace
Same Circus remains 5lb higher than when scoring over track and trip back in March when Sparkling River was pulled up but Achille ended last season with a better effort at Wincanton and can race off the same mark. Justforjames won twice over fences early in the year and should be sharper for a recent comeback while Samuel Jackson will likely finish closer having failed to figure at Ffos Las on his chasing bow. But EARLY RETIREMENT found only one too good at Southwell on his first outing over the larger obstacles despite reportedly losing a shoe and Caroline Bailey's dual hurdles winner is taken to come best in this.
Samuel Jackson 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression, 5th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Kilbricken Storm (11-3) at Ffos Las 3m (3) hvy in Nov.
Same Circus (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Blundered 1st, chased leaders on outside, lost place 10th, behind and struggling 3 out (usual 4 out), plugged on, left modest 4th last, 4th of 9, 19l behind Cloth Cap (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Sparkling River (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 5th, led again 8th, ridden and headed 10th, weakened 14th, 8th of 12, dist behind Yala Enki (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Early Retirement (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, led after 2nd, headed 5th, led again 8th, headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Rhaegar (11-6) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Justforjames (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up in touch in last pair, outpaced 4 out, lost touch next, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Fixed Rate (11-8) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Billy Bronco 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 8th, under pressure 5 out, weakened after next, 12th of 14, dist behind Glen Forsa (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Achille (FR) 9-1 (12-0) With leader, led 2nd, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, kept on and always held run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Cucklington (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
