held up, headway 4th, went 2nd 6th, challenging when left in lead 4 out, headed 3 out, no extra last
led, joined when slithered on landing and headed 4 out, ridden and edged right after 2 out, weakened flat
prominent, took keen hold, jumped right 4th, lost place 6th, weakening when not fluent 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway approaching 5th, hit 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4th until 6th, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on flat
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leader to 3rd, hampered next, reminders 7th, weakened after next, tailed off
held up, raced keenly, pushed along briefly and lost place 5th, headway 7th, led 3 out, ridden clear from last
BLOSSOM KING was turned over by 50/1 shot Orana Conti when the pair met over course and distance earlier in the month, but with a 6lb pull he looks capable of reversing those placings, while Safe Investment and Gabreselassie have frame claims. The last-named may well find improvement for first-time blinkers, but the ground is not really soft enough for him and so we will oppose, while Safe Investment gets his conditions but lacks gears and should be in the shake-up for minor money at best. Orana Conti put behind him a dismal spell with that win last time. This trip looks ideal for him and we will only find out today whether that was a flash-in-the-pan. Blossom King has two lengths to find with Orana Conti but has been holding his form better and there is every chance that he can reproduce his running and take this. Circus Of Dreams has more ability than he has been showing but would want softer ground than today's and Blossom King is preferred.
Circus of Dreams 25-1 (11-1) Disputed 2nd until approaching 13th, went 2nd again, weakening when hit 4 out, blundered 3 out, lost 2nd after last, 4th of 6, 38l behind Latanier (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Blossom King (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Led, ridden 2 out, pressed approaching last, headed soon after, driven and kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Orana Conti (11-3) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Orana Conti (FR) 50-1 (11-3) Keen, always prominent, ridden to press leader approaching last, led soon after, driven out, won at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Blossom King (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Fidelis (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pulled hard, headway 3 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, eased down and lost 4th place close home, 5th of 8, 33l behind Candy Creek (10-5) at Kempton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
Gabreselassie (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) In touch, ridden after 4 out, effort next, soon driven along, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 29l behind Victorias Groom (11-10) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
See Me Soon 40-1 (11-12) Towards rear, led approaching 5th, headed 7th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Ayemdee (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft, 8 ran.
Alfatrix (IRE) 2-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, well in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 25l behind Cartier Opera (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Pistolet Dove (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 11, well behind Quinte Du Chatelet (12-4) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Safe Investment (USA) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 3 out until 2 out, no impression in 3rd when left 2nd and hampered last, lost that place towards finish, 3rd of 11, 26l behind Desperate Dex (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
