always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
held up in 3rd behind furious pace of leading pair, ridden and struggling 5 out, no chance with front pair
pulled very hard, soon pressing leader and clear of rest, lost 2nd and weakened rapidly 6th, tailed off
hed up in 4th off furious pace, closed steadily 5th, tracked clear leader next, closed 3 out, led next, in command after, easily
jumped right throughout, pulled very hard, made most at furious pace and soon well clear with rival, reduced lead 3 out, headed next, soon held
soon well in rear, struggling 7th, tailed off
Mr McManus has a strong hand here with American World and Pistolet Dove but we'll take them both on with PRINCE DES MARAIS. The key to our selection seems to be a sound surface and this sort of trip so with that in mind he's given a speculative vote. It's of course a concern that he's yet to get his head in front in 15 attempts but Andrew Thornton seems to get on well with him and the pair took a good second last time. This mark seems fair and he's got as good a chance as he's had, this could be his day. Pistolet Dove may be the biggest danger having won over this trip at Leicester. The trouble is he ran a strange sort of race last time, getting outpaced over further before staying on and just failing to get up. That effort suggested he'd benefit for a step up rather than a step down but he has won over two and if positive tactic are adopted he'll be hard to beat. Stronger trip concerns surround his companion American World who was last seen staying on over almost three miles; he's not won over this trip and is worth opposing. If Arumun can repeat his third to Lease Lend in November he'd have claims off this 8lb lower mark but the horse has disappointed since and was last of five last time, whilst both Littledon Aldor and Western Pride race from out of the handicap and can be opposed. In a poor race it's Prince Des Marais who gets our narrow preference.
American World (FR) 3-1fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, pushed along 9th, outpaced approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 6l behind No Panic (11-6) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Mar.
Pistolet Dove (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, progress to mid-division 4th, chased leaders 8th, led approaching last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Prince Louis (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Arumun (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up behind leaders, not fluent 1st, headway 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind The Snail (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Prince Des Marais (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked winner on outside, went 2nd 3 out, ridden between last 2, 2 lengths down and one pace when mistake last, no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Cesium (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Jumped right throughout, raced keenly, led and clear to before 3 out, ridden and headed before next, soon no impression, lost 2nd last, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 19l behind Glimmer of Light (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 1f sell hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
Western Pride 28-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 7th until after 9th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Abbey Dore (10-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-85 (5) sft in Mar, 11 ran.
