always towards rear, struggling from 5th
held up, not fluent 5th, weakened from 8th
chased leaders, led 4th, clear from 6th, 5 lengths up when blundered badly 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on well
led until fell 1st
in touch, ridden and weakened from 4 out
left in lead 1st, headed 4th, one pace from 3 out
chased leaders, chased winner from 4 out, 2 lengths down when not fluent last, kept on same pace
always behind, mistakes
Nonrunner
ARUMUN finished behind the well handicapped Cheating Chance last time, form which was been franked in no uncertain terms and he looks the one to beat here. Blast The Past and Some Touch appear as those most likely to trouble Arumun. A winner in soft ground at Uttoxeter on his penultimate start, that victory has also been franked with the second scoring subsequently. Blast The Past is 10lb higher for an easy victory at Sedgefield last time out. The form does not look strong although this astute yard do well with this type of horse for whom quick ground seems essential. Some Touch has always promised quite a bit but not always delivered to the extent as some would have expected. Ground wise he is versatile while he does not seem handicapped out of it off his current mark. He will need to brush up on his jumping though if he is to succeed even at this level. Stagecoach Amber should be suited by dropping back to two miles as he does not see out 2m 4f. He has been given some respite from the assessor having raced off 111 on his final start last season. Arumun is given the vote to win it.
Flake 20-1 (10-11) Chased leader, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching next, 9th of 10, 32l behind Cedrus Libani (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Some Touch (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 18l behind Tramantano (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Kilmackilloge 14-1 (11-12) Led, headed 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 12th of 15, well behind Nirvana Swing (11-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Arumun (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Led, hit 5th, soon headed, led again 3 out to 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Cheating Chance (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Cantgeton (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) In touch, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by The Hollow Bottom (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Oct, 14 ran.
Waterspray (AUS) 5-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 5th, not fluent and headed 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Cheating Chance (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 7th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 10, 43l behind Araldur (11-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Stagecoach Amber (USA) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, led after 4 out, headed next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Loita Hills (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Blast The Past 4-1fav (11-1) Tracked leader throughout, stayed on to lead last, ridden clear flat, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs beating Cedar Rapids (9-9) by 10l, 10 ran.
