tracked leaders, ridden approaching 16th, kept on same pace from 2 out
made all, not fluent 11th, in command when mistake 2 out, comfortably
chased leaders, pushed along after 14th, weakened 16th, tailed off
held up, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next
with winner until mistake 7th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 2 out
Nonrunner
Barring accidents, the finish of this contest should be fought out by Leading Authority and O'Maley who have upwards of thirty six pounds in hand of their rivals. Neither can be relied upon and it isn't easy to choose between them; the coin came down in favour of Leading Authority. The selection has been set some fairly stiff tasks since winning twice at around the turn of the year and could be adjudged to have been a shade disappointing when second at Chepstow last time. He jumped well in the main though and that may be enough to see him home here. O'Maley looked quite good when winning back to back races at Fontwell in December and January but he was firmly put in his place by Air Force One back at that track at the end of January and looked a shadow of his former self on his latest start, again at the Sussex venue. He's difficult to recommend on the back of that showing so we'll award the vote to Leading Authority.
Leading Authority (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 8th, blundered 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, held from 2 out, not fluent last, 2nd of 5, 18l behind Shardakhan (11-3) at Chepstow 3m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
O'maley (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Led 2nd, headed 3rd, hit 6th, mistake 8th, ridden 13th, weakened 3 out, last of 4, 21l behind Oscar Park (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gd in Feb.
Ackhurst (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Led to 14th, soon lost place, hit 15th, weakening when hampered 17th, tailed off 3 out, 3rd of 4, well behind Classic Clover (10-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Proud Peer (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Held up, left 4th 11th, closed on leaders 4 out, outpaced next, stayed on from last, 4th of 7, 14l behind Menchikov (11-5) at Taunton 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs.
The Big Breakfast (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Kings Euro (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Dunbell Boy (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, lost action and pulled up in race won by Menchikov (11-5) at Taunton 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs, 7 ran.
Freeline Fury 8-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 5th, headed 8th, mistake 10th, ridden and jumped right from 5 out, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 5, 36l behind Shardakhan (11-3) at Chepstow 3m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
