tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression when lost 3rd next
held up in touch, driven and outpaced before 3 out, went 3rd next, ridden and kept on flat, no chance with winner
keen early, tracked leader, led and came towards stands side rail before 3 out, clear next, ridden out, comfortably
led, driven and headed before 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure from next, no chance with winner
held up in touch, struggling before 3 out, soon tailed off
Spirit River would have made short work of these a couple of years ago but we're not sure if that's the case nowadays, though he is dropped in grade here. Arrayan won one of these a year ago at Taunton but recent efforts suggest he's also on a downward curve and Sublime Talent finished tailed off in a seller at Leicester last time and is now tried in a visor. EDLOMOND was big outsider when winning at Towcester in November but this is his level and the second has franked the form since. He gets the vote by default as Islandmagee has a lot to find on these terms.
Spirit River (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 9, well behind Oscar Prairie (10-8) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
Edlomond (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, effort on outside approaching 2 out, soon challenged, ridden to lead last, kept on flat, won at Towcester 2m clm hdl (5) gs in Nov beating Flying Phoenix (10-2) by 3l, 9 ran.
Arrayan 25-1 (11-12) In touch, dropped to rear 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Free World (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Islandmagee (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, hit 7th, behind next, mistake 3 out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Massena (11-10) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Sublime Talent (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, chased winner after 7th until weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, well behind Stow (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f sell hdl (5) sft in Dec.
