always prominent, ridden, stayed on same pace from 4 out
made all, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on well flat
chased winner, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd last, one pace flat
ridden before 7th, always behind
took keen hold, tracked leaders, disputing 2nd when hit 4 out, weakened from 3 out
blundered 1st and 3rd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway after 6th, weakening when jumped left 7th
always well behind
held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, mistake 6th, never near leaders
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd last, not troubled winner
This novices' chase can go the way of Ellerslie Tom, who is preferred to Vivid Imagination and Daldini. The selection did take a heavy fall when a beaten favourite at Stratford last time but providing his confidence has not been affected by that, then he should prove too good for his rivals today. Vivid Imagination could be the one to profit if Ellerslie Tom is let down by his jumping as he ran well on his return from a long break when third behind Left Hand Drive at Stratford last time. He should strip fitter for that outing and he can go well. Daldini won well at Perth last time when beating The Stickler and Sue Smith's 5-year-old is a consistent type so he should again get competitive. Sunley Shines makes most appeal from the rest, but this looks a good opoortunity for Ellerslie Tom who can get his head in front.
Daldini 5-4 (10-7) Made all, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, won at Perth 2m beg chs (4) gs in Aug beating The Stickler (11-0) by 3l, 4 ran.
Dev (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Led, edged clear 3 out, joined 2 out, headed after last, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 17l behind Prairie Moonlight (11-1) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs gs in Aug.
Sunley Shines 6-1 (11-6) Tracked winner, effort 3 out, ridden next, weakened last, 4th of 8, 9l behind Waterspray (11-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Chateau (IRE) 17-2 (11-1) Held up, ridden, weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, 41l behind Touch of Ivory (10-13) at Cartmel 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Aug.
Ellerslie Tom 4-5fav (11-5) Led until fell 5 out in race won by Enlightenment (11-5) at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (4) gf, 5 ran.
Karelian 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders on outer, 5th when pecked 7th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind City Of Sails (10-4) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl hvy in Nov.
Penwell Hill (USA) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 12, 35l behind Countback (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd sll hcp hdl (5) sft in Jul.
Presentandcorrect (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 14, 7l behind Left Hand Drive (10-7) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (3) gd.
Rhetoric (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Towards rear and keen, headway 4 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 13, 21l behind Storm of Applause (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Twist Bookie (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) In touch, effort 4 out, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, 5th of 14, 11l behind Le Corvee (11-1) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (4) gf.
Vivid Imagination (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, challenging when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Left Hand Drive (10-7) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (3) gd.
