held up, improved 12th, led soon after 3 out, ran on, comfortable
chased leader, led 4th, ridden 4 out, headed soon after next, weakened and pulled up approaching last
in touch, ridden and outpaced 5 out
close up, chased leader 9th, ridden and with winner 2 out, soon outpaced by winner
held up, hampered 11th, headway next, ridden soon after 4 out, weakened 2 out
led, headed 4th, chased leader after until 9th, jumped left 11th, ridden and outpaced 5 out, driven and under strong pressure 3 out, kept on to take moderate 3rd flat
A small but competitive field goes to post for this handicap chase and the main protagonists look to be Cassia Heights, Blazing Hills and Rockview Lad and the vote is given to the evergreen Cassia Heights. The selection was a good second behind Ferimon last time out, form that looks solid and off the same mark here he will be hard to beat. Blazing Hills rates the main danger on his latest third behind Lost In Normandy but he just gave the impression the handicapper had caught up with him on that occasion. Rockview Lad hails from a shrewd yard and could go well at a price but he has shown little of late. Autumn Red may need the run after a 688 day break but for the winner we return to Cassia Heights.
Herecomestanley 4-1co-fav (11-1) Held up, headway 10th, led approaching 4 out, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Marked Man (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Rockview Lad (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, improved into 3rd 6 out, 4th 4 out, 6th and ridden before next, soon no extra, 7th of 15, 45l behind Breaking Silence (11-12) at Listowel 2m 6f beg chs gd in Sept.
Melford (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Led, jumped left and headed 7th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Cruising River (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Autumn Red (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Held up, headway 4th, ridden to join leader 3 out, led briefly and mistake 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Smart Mover (11-3) at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (3) gf in Mar '06.
Cassia Heights 11-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 7th, close up 16th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, no extra, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Ferimon (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Blazing Hills 9-2 (10-11) Led to 10th, weakened approaching 13th, 3rd of 7, 25l behind Lost In Normandy (9-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Nov.
