tracked winner, reminder before 4 out, mistake and lost 2nd next, kept on same pace in 3rd, no chance with leading duo
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 14th, pushed along before 16th, one pace in 4th when slightly hampered 3 out, plugged on pressing for modest 3rd, no chance with leading duo
held up in rear, closer order 11th, hit 14th, bad mistake next, weakened 4 out, soon lost touch, went badly right and blundered last, tailed off
led, hit 7th, slight peck 16th (water), ridden before last, narrowly headed run-in, rallied gamely to regain lead close home
tracked leaders, hit 6th, 2nd 3 out, challenged last, ridden to lead narrowly run-in, headed and no extra close home
Four of these ran in a similar race at Chepstow last month. Loose Chips fared best, finishing second behind Double Ross. Saint Are finished fifth and Rocky Creek was sixth while Court By Surprise was pulled up, though all were returning from a break. OPENING BATSMAN is best on right-handed tracks and goes particularly well at Kempton. There is a chance that he might need this but his second in the BetBright Chase in February is stand-out form in a race like this.
Saint Are (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, weakened 9th, beaten 4 out, 5th of 8, 33 3/4l behind Double Ross (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Rocky Creek (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Pushed along in rear, slow 7th, never dangerous, 6th of 8, dist behind Double Ross (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, went 3rd before last, one pace, 3rd of 15, 11l behind Bob Tucker (10-11) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Loose Chips 8-1 (10-13) Led until approaching 5 out, rallied 3 out, kept on well under pressure closing stages, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Double Ross (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Court By Surprise (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 6 out, chased leaders next, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up next, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
