tracked leader, effort 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out
mid division, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up after 4 out
towards rear, headway 7th, chased leaders 4 out, soon led, headed flat, no extra
prominent, not fluent 8th, chased winner 2 out, blundered and unseated rider last
held up, headway 5 out, led 2 out, headed last, no extra
led, jumped left 4 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 2 out, led after last, ran on well
This Novice Handicap Chase looks wide open but having scored on his last appearance in this company we marginally prefer the profile of FOXESBOW ahead of last time out success story Rio Laine and Bushwacker could be a leading player if building on his encouraging seasonal debut. The selection is two pounds lighter here than when placing behind a well handicapped runner in a handicap proper last time. His penultimate start was a win over course and distance in this company and if racing up the level of his latest start he should be winning this. Rio Laine was comfortable in his success in one of these races last time benefitting for a step up to this trip. He's got six pounds extra to carry this time but that seems a fair assessment so he should go well. Bushwaker found just one too good last time and could have gone better if for a more acomplished round of jumping and Seamus Mullin's runner looks competitive under this mark while Sydney Sling stayed on nicely for a silver medal last time so if closer to the pace here could be in the mix. A really tight contest this and Foxesbow is a marginally call.
Bushwacker (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, in touch when mistake next, soon weakened, behind when left remote 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Kanpai (10-5) at Stratford 2m 7f nov stks (3) gf in Oct.
Pacific Ocean (ARG) 16-1 (11-12) Towards rear, 8th 5 out, ridden into moderate 6th before straight, soon no impression and kept on without threatening, 5th of 12, 14l behind Narquois (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 1f beg chs gf in Oct.
Legally Fast (USA) 6-1 (10-7) Mid-division, reminders 7th, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 11, 30l behind Spring Breeze (10-5) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Foxesbow (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Held up, mistake 13th, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd last, weakened flat, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Winsley Hill (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Oct.
Pallasmore (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, 7th 6 out, fell next, in a race won by Droim Toll (10-6) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp chs 0-102 sft in Oct, 22 ran.
Rio Laine 9-4fav (11-0) Held up in last pair, closed 11th, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, soon hung right and ridden, drew clear towards finish with head high and ears pricked, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Oct beating It's A Roofer (11-12) by 4l, 5 ran.
Cresswell Ruby (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Always behind, weakened from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Foxesbow (11-2) at Ffos Las 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Aug, 10 ran.
Sydney Sling (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, lost place approaching 10th, hit 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Midnight Haze (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
