led until after 4th, weakened 4 out, refused 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, 5 lengths 4th when fell 3 out
chased leader to 1st, handy, pushed along after 2nd, soon lost place, well behind 4th, jumped badly right and slowly 3 out, tailed off
keen early, soon tracking leader, led after 4th, clear approaching last, easily
held up, headway approaching 3rd, chased winner 4 out, ridden after 3 out, not fluent next no impression approaching last
held up in rear, jumped right, raced wide until 3rd, headway after 4th, third when went badly right 2 out, soon beaten
AL QANOON is given a chance to show he's well handicapped after a fall last time out and he is chosen over Carrickmines with Midnight Diamond best of the rest. The selection is lightly raced having had only six starts to date and was in the process of running his best race when departing three out over this trip at Taunton last time. Jeremy Scott's gelding had travelled and jumped well until that point and looked likely to make the race his before over-jumping the fence and falling but if none the worse for that experience compensation awaits off the same mark. Confidence is enhanced by the fact that was the horse's first try on soft ground and with similar conditions likely he should take all the beating against modest opposition. Carrickmines rates the clear danger having placed off this mark over both hurdles and fences recently. Daryl Jacob's mount fell when last competing over the larger obstacles but confidence should have been restored by a decent effort when third behind an in-form horse at Huntingdon last week. The horse has shown form on various types of ground and todays trip should be ideal, but a record of zero wins from 21 starts increases the belief that this horse's best hope is to take second behind our selection. The rest look decidedly modest though perhaps Midnight Diamond can return to the form that saw him take third place off a 5lb higher mark back in the spring. That effort had come on the back of a decent enough fourth place behind the classy Song Of Songs and although the horse has been out of form since this race is much weaker than those he was contesting as recently as May and as such he is worthy of respect. Thomondgate has been beaten out of sight on both chase starts but is lightly raced and can improve over time whilst four-year-old Cesium contested some decent contests over hurdles and may progress with time but Al Qanoon looks to have been found a very decent opportunity to open his account here.
Iphar (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off from 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Lord Generous (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Thomondgate (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Mid-division, struggling 4 out, 10th of 14, 45l behind Far More Serious (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Triple Bluff 22-1 (10-9) Held up, raced keenly, headway 4th, not fluent next, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Dovedale (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Chased leaders to 4th, soon behind, no danger after, 11th of 13, well behind Star Galaxy (9-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Carrickmines (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Canni Thinkaar (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Cesium (FR) 125-1 (11-0) Led, headed approaching 4th, weakened next, 8th of 11, 47l behind Ski Sunday (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Al Qanoon (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) In rear, good headway to track leaders 4 out, led bend approaching 3 out, in command when fell 3 out, in a race won by Flashy Conquest (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 9 ran.
