held up, in touch, not fluent 5th, ridden from headway 7th, kept on same pace from 2 out
jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, soon towards rear, weakened 6th
prominent, chased leader 6th, headway but challenged on bit after 3 out, ridden, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, held when blundered last, no extra
prominent, ridden after 3f out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
towards rear, headway on bit, chased leader 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, weakened after 6th, tailed up, pulled up before 3 out
held up last, mistake 6th, good headway on bit after 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, ridden, led approaching last, ridden out flat
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden, headway 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
led to 3rd, with leader until led approaching 7th, ridden approaching 8th, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, ridden headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden, headway 3 out, weakened when mistake 2 out, tired when jumped badly right last
chased leader, led 3rd, reminder 6th, ridden, headed approaching 7th, soon weakened, pulled up after 3 out
Touch Of Fate gets the call here with his main dangers reckoned to be Abraham Smith, Seeador, Boddidley and Spike Jones. Touch Of Fate looked an improved performer when scoring over nearly three-and-a-quarter miles last time and, despite dropping back in trip, we will trust the trainer's judgement on that score with a horse that he very much likes. Seeador has improved for stepping up in trip this year and could go well, while Abraham Smith's second to Little Brave last time at Hereford affords him some respect and he holds Spike Jones on that form, although they race over a longer trip today. From the Paul Nicholls yard, Boddidley has form enough to be considered, particularly if his tendency to jump to his left has been ironed out. Justino showed his best form to date at Fontwell last time and is entitled to improve again, while Go Ballistic's half-brother Classic Clover has yet to set the world alight. Finally, Elle Roseador has not built on her bumper win from last season and the remainder need to show improvement which, in turn, returns us to the selection, which is Touch Of Fate.
Seeador 9-1 (10-12) Prominent, outpaced after 9th, stayed approaching 2 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 16, 8l behind Like A Lord (10-12) at Worcester 3m nov hdl (E) gf in Jun.
Abraham Smith 16-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden and every chance after 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Little Brave (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Nov.
Touch of Fate 11-1 (10-4) Close up, driven to lead 2 out, held on under pressure flat, won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Oct beating Glacial Evening (11-7) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Boddidley (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) In touch, headway 7th, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Shining Lights (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Apr.
One Wild Night 9-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, hit last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Latin Queen (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (E) gf in May.
Spike Jones (NZ) 8-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 5th, every chance after 2 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 10l behind Little Brave (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Nov.
Jackie Boy (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden 12th, headway 14th, chasing clear front trio when mistake 4 out, blundered badly next and weakened, 7th of 13, 43l behind Midnight Gunner (11-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Oct.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Held up rear, headway 4th but never nearer, 6th of 14, 31l behind Its Crucial (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Justino 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 4th, jumped right on 7th, ridden and headed last, rallied flat, no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 12, 2l behind English Jim (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs in Nov.
Dundridge Native 20-1 (11-5) In touch, dropped to rear 8th, soon tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Manque Neuf (11-3) at Plumpton 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gs in Nov.
Classic Clover 33-1 (10-11) Pulled early, chased leader, ridden lost touch 8th, went poor 3rd after 2 out, 3rd of 6, 36l behind Present Glory (10-11) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (D) gf in Nov.
Baron Blitzkrieg 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division until weakened after 7th, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Nippy Des Mottes (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
Elle Roseador 20-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 12, 45l behind English Jim (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs in Nov.
Lescer's Lad 66-1 (9-7) Behind, mistake 4th, 8th and 9th pulled up 5 out in race won by Supreme Tadgh (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Nov, 9 ran.
