prominent, weakened from 10th
prominent, unseated rider 5th
led, headed approaching and hit 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up in rear, tracked leaders 10th, outpaced 13th, kept on from 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened 10th, soon struggling, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, mistake 2nd, chased leaders approaching 10th, ridden after 4 out, no impression from next
towards rear, headway 12th, upsides when blundered 3 out, hit last, rallied flat, stayed on towards finish, just held
held up in rear, disputing close 3rd when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up, headway to lead approaching 3 out, just held on
We'll take MORESTEAD to come back to form and land this handicap chase, while Vial De Kerdec and Wizard Of Edge are contenders. The selection was the easy winner of a novices' handicap chase at Plumpton on fast ground last month, before being found out very early in the piece on his travels up to Hexham last time. He was carrying plenty of weight that day and dropped back in trip, so the longer distance here will help and with his four-year-old allowance he carries little weight, so we are giving him another chance. Vial De Kerdec ran well on good to firm at Fontwell over a similar trip when last seen in June and has gone up a fair-looking 3lbs for that. Mark Bradstock's gelding can again get very competitive. Course and distance winners Wizard Of Edge and Eljay's Boy are both handily weighted, and as the latter acts better on this ground than the former then he may be able to get the better of that particular argument. Ours would prefer some cut to be at his best and Morestead is preferred.
Nesnaas (USA) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 26l behind Max Bygraves (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Free World (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 3 out until no extra flat, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 17-2 (11-8) Held up, headway 4 out, beaten before 2 out, 7th of 9, 35l behind Perpetuum (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sep.
Ours (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Held up, jumped slowly 10th, ridden after next, not fluent 12th, weakened next, left poor 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 38l behind Orfeo Conti (11-11) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Aug.
Vial De Kerdec (FR) 17-2 (10-12) Led, strongly pressed from 3 out, headed soon after 2 out, 2 lengths down last, rallied under pressure flat, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind I Hear Thunder (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Wizard of Edge 11-1 (11-12) Prominent, lost place 6th, ridden 15th, soon no chance, 4th of 9, well behind Rebel Melody (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
I'm A Legend 11-1 (11-4) Towards rear, not fluent 3rd, behind and pushed along next, stayed on approaching last, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 14l behind Colliers Court (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Sep.
Eljay's Boy 8-1 (11-4) Held up, headway approaching 10th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 9, 37l behind Majy D'auteuil (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Morestead (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leader, led 3rd, headed 4 out, soon reminders and struggling, tailed off 2 out, last of 12, well behind Panthers Run (10-6) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Roussea (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway 10th, led 4 out, mistake and headed 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Majy D'auteuil (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
