jumped right and never going in rear
always in touch, headway after 7th, led approaching 9th, ridden after 2 out, blundered last, all out
led, reminders after 7th, headed approaching 9th, soon beaten
in touch, headway 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
in touch, mistake 5th, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
in touch, ridden 9th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, not trouble leaders
held up, good headway 9th, chased winner approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
chased leaders, led briefly approaching 9th, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
chased leaders until 8th, weakened after 4 out
held up, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, rallied well under pressure flat, stayed on
held up, some headway 4 out, soon ridden, weakened
chased leaders until 7th, soon behind
A wide open renewal can go to Creon, with many dangers including Battle Warning, Miss Cool, His Nibs, and Positive Profile to name but four. Jonjo O'Neill did have Sh Boom earmarked for this race but the fact that he runs Creon instead suggests that he is fit and ready after his comeback third over fences at Towcester a fortnight ago. Granted he is not as well treated over timber as fences but was good enough to finish sixth to stablemate Inching Closer in the Pertemps Final at the Festival in March. Any money for him would increase our faith in the eight-year-old, who is invariably well backed when he does win. Tom Phelan has been in the saddle for three of his six career victories, and can claim a valuable five pounds. Battle Warning defied nearly a stone rise in the weights when battling home at Ascot to supplement earlier Aintree gains, and he will not go down without a fight here. Tony McCoy rides him rather than Miss Cool who has had a rest since scoring in novice chase company at Newton Abbot in July. His Nibs is on a roll, having gained back-to-back successes at Lingfield and Market Rasen. He did not take to fences but has appreciated a step up in trip and is another that can figure in proceedings. Positive Profile is yet another with claims, having doubled up at Kelso and Doncaster since finishing ninth in the Cesarewitch. He will stay and makes some appeal as a place prospect. It is a hard one to call, but Creon gets a tentative vote.
