led, headed briefly 6th, headed 5 out, weakened from 4 out, blundered 3 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 5th, mistake 6th, in 3rd and one pace when fell last
held up in touch, led 5 out, ridden and headed narrowly last, stayed on gamely in regain led towards finish
held up towards rear, weakened before 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, led briefly 6th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, challenged when not fluent 2 out, led narrowly last, head towards finish
It's hard to make a strong case for any of these and the token vote goes to GORGE, who is the best of these over hurdles and can land this if taking to the larger obstacles. I Can Run Can You never recovered from hitting the first two fences on his chasing debut at Chepstow and may do better today, while Cantabilly has finished third over fences on a couple of occasions. Sky Calling won a chase at Worcester back in May and may have been placed at Kempton last month if not for falling at the last and Le Corvee ran well at Stratford in between a couple of dire efforts. Blossom King is returning from over a year's absence and may be best watched.
Blossom King (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Held up in 4th, headway when mistake 9th, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Kilkenny All Star (11-7) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov '10.
Cantabilly (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Tracked winner until after 2nd, ridden approaching 6th, outpaced and no impression on leaders from next, 3rd of 4, 34l behind Falcon Island (11-1) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) gf.
Gorge (AUS) 20-1 (10-12) Awkward as tapes rose, took keen hold, chased leaders, still well there when blundered 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 11l behind Brunston (11-12) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
I Can Run Can You (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Always behind, tailed off from 7 out, 6th of 7, 35l behind Renard (11-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy.
Le Corvee (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and struggling 15th, soon lost touch, tailed off when refused last, in a race won by Graduation Night (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Sky Calling 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place 5th, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 44l behind Renard (11-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
