close up, tracked leaders 12th, ridden and 4th when fell 3 out
led, mistake 8th, headed 10th, led again 3 out, challenged from 2 out, headed last, stayed on
tracked leaders until 11th, ridden and slightly outpaced next, 5th when hampered 3 out, plugged on same pace from 2 out
always in rear, tailed off from 11th
towards rear, ridden 7th, struggling from 11th
tracked leader, led 10th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on same pace
in touch, headway to track leaders 8th, pressed leader from 2 out, edged left and led last, stayed on gamely
Roc de Guye is in terrific form but will have to defy a career-high mark to complete his four-timer. Riddlestown carries a penalty for his neck defeat of PLUM PUDDING at Huntingdon 10 days ago and you would expect David Bridgwater's 10-year-old to reverse the form here, though faster ground would have to be a bit of a worry. Midnight Charmer is 7lb higher than when scoring at Uttoxeter and Safe Investment was pulled up at Plumpton last month and still 6lb higher than when successful at Fontwell earlier.
Riddlestown (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Chased clear leaders, pecked 1st, not fluent 10th, mistake when closing 4 out, challenged 2 out, led narrowly flat, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Plum Pudding (11-8) by nk, 8 ran.
Plum Pudding (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Led 1st utnil 2nd, led 5th until 9th, led 4 out, joined 2 out, mistake last, headed narrowly flat, stayed on gamely, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Riddlestown (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Roc De Guye (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Mid-division on outside, headway 5 out, tracked leaders next, led approaching 3 out, mistake next, ridden and kept on flat, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs beating Bennys Well (9-9) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Safe Investment (USA) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leader until jumped slowly and lost 2nd 8th, soon dropped out and in rear, tailed off 10th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Fearless Leader (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sep, 7 ran.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Chased clear leaders, ridden 6th, struggling 10th, 5th of 8, 31l behind Riddlestown (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Outback (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Towards rear, reminders after 9th, tailed off, 6th of 8, 38l behind Caulfields Venture (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Midnight Charmer 7-1 (10-6) Held up behind, headway into mid-division 7th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, led flat, kept on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gs beating Croco Mister (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
