held up, headway 6th, mistake 10th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 8th, ridden and weakened after 4 out
held up, headway 14th, stayed on same pace from 3 out
held up, hampered bend after 8th, pulled up before next
prominent until ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up, not fluent 3rd, headway 14th, chased leader 2 out, edged left and led approaching last, hung left and headed just after last, stayed on near finish
mid-division, reminder after 5th, headway 8th, ridden 14th, weakened 3 out, blundered badly 2 out, pulled up before last
in touch, pecked 11th, soon weakened
led, mistake 4 out, ridden next, headed after 2 out, mistake last, soon led again, stayed on gamely
in touch, lost place 7th, no headway from 3 out
always prominent, mistake 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching last
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch to 14th, soon weakened
held up, mistake 9th, losing touch when tried to refuse and fell 11th
behind from 5th, tailed off when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 13th
Kelantan might be the one to solve the puzzle of this competitive event, with others for the shortlist including Belski, El Hombre del Rio, Curtins Hill, Intrepid Mogal and Freteval. The selection has been raised nine pounds for a good Huntingdon win last time but showed that he stays this trip well and, still fairly lightly raced, should have more to come. Bak To Bill went well for today's young rider at Taunton last time although he has a bit to find with Belski based on their Exeter runs on December 18. We expect Belski to be competitive here. Half An Hour won hurdles but has yet to set the world alight in two chase runs. El Hombre del Rio is certainly bred for this game and is improving so don't rule him out. Curtins Hill can go well back at this longer trip, while Unmistakably was staying on at Taunton last time and is likely to be seen to better effect on this more-galloping track. Intrepid Mogal is rated only three-pounds higher than for his Doncaster win in November and, pretty consistent, can go well also. On only his third start, Ankles Back won a novice event over course and distance last time, and the handicapper cannot have had an easy time in assessing him. Flying Trix was a very good hurdler but injury seems to have taken the edge off his ability. Red Blazer was pretty decent when with Henrietta Knight but plagued by injury problems. However, there is no doubt that he is well-weighted on the best of his form. Of the others, Freteval is a course and distance maiden hunter chase winner and is still young enough to have some improvement in him, but the wheel spins us back to Kelantan, who might just prevail in a fascinating handicap.
