prominent in group 5 off the pace, headway approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, chased winner 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on, no impression
led, raced keenly, headed approaching 9th, weakened 2 out
held up in group of 5 off the pace, not fluent 1st or 2nd, ridden and effort after 8th, well beaten after 4 out
held up in group of 5 off the pace, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, soon in command, pushed out
raced keenly, tracked leader, challenged 5th, led approaching 9th, headed 2 out, soon weakened
mistakes, held up on group of 5 off the pace, struggling 4 out, no danger after
held up in group of 5 off the pace, mistake 5th, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no chance with front pair
With Best Of The Lot not obviously well treated on his handicap chase debut we give NORBORNE BANDIT another chance to score with Tom's Toybox also considered. The pick has found himself second best on his last two starts with his latest effort a bit of a hard luck story has he hung away his chances of victory to lose by half a length. He races off the same mark that he carried last time, which was in similar company so he should run another big race. Best Of The Lot is certainly in good form having easily landed a novice event on his chase debut last time out. It was an impressive performance but on all known form his rating of 107 looks a little high. Tom's Toybox concedes a lot of weight all around here but he has shown he is capable of handling his current mark with a good run when two pounds lighter three starts ago. Master Nimbus looks weighted to mount a serious challenge after running well under his current burden on his last chase appearance and Laoch Dubh looks set for some prize money but has some form to overturn on the selection who is Norborne Bandit.
Tom's Toybox 9-2 (10-7) Close up, led approaching 6th, quickened pace next, headed last, soon no extra, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Pokanoket (9-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Laoch Dubh (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Set good gallop, not fluent 2nd, headed approaching 3 out, weakening when jumped right last, 4th of 9, 17l behind Passato (10-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Soubriquet (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, 6th of 9, 25l behind Pilca (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in May.
Master Nimbus 12-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Merchant Red (11-1) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) gf in Nov.
Red Man Ray (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased winner, mistake 9th, weakened after 3 out, behind when badly hampered last, 7th of 13, well behind Baseball Ted (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Best Of The Lot (USA) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 8th, left clear 2 out, easily, won at Southwell 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May beating Just Like That (10-13) by 5l, 11 ran.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, led approaching 4 out, ridden 5 lengths clear after 2 out, hung right briefly, hanging left before last where pressed and bumped, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind Passato (10-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
