in rear and in touch, went 3rd from 7 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, led 2 out, kept on well
chased leader, lost place 7 out, soon in rear, tailed off
led, mistake and headed 2 out, not fluent last, kept on and no impression with winner
A winner of point-to-points and hurdle races, BATTLE OF SHILOH kept his unbeaten record intact with a successful chasing debut at Uttoxeter. He’s been upped 10lb for that but further progress is expected here and he’s preferred to Final Nudge. The latter also made a winning start over fences with a narrow-margin success at Fakenham recently while Derrintogher Bliss has found only one too good in both starts over fences so far. Hainan is harder to fancy having failed to show any progress on his latest start.
Final Nudge (IRE) 6-5fav (11-3) Tracked leader, pressed leader 4 out, led soon after 2 out, driven out, won at Fakenham 3m (3) sft in Nov beating Join The Clan (11-3) by nk, 4 ran.
Battle Of Shiloh (IRE) 11-10fav (10-13) Not always fluent, chased leader, mistake 9th, close up 2 out, mistake last, 3 lengths down and looked beaten flat, given 2 reminders and stayed on to lead close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Jimmy The Jetplane (11-6) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Derrintogher Bliss (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-12) In touch, tracked leaders 9th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 2l behind I Am Colin (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Hainan (FR) 20-1 (10-7) Mid-division, lost place 8th, behind from 10th, 8th of 13, dist behind Pobbles Bay (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
