chased leaders, went 2nd 15th, ridden and lost 2nd soon after 3 out, soon weakened
ran in snatches, in touch, chasing leaders when slightly hampered 10th, ridden and hit 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway to chase leaders when hit 14th, chased winner after 3 out, tried to challenge 2 out, held before last, well clear of rest
led to 3rd, mostly chased winner after, blundered 14th, lost 2nd 15th, blundered next, reminders and blundered 3 out, weakened soon after
not fluent, never travelling, always in rear, driven and struggling after 10th, tailed off
in touch until blundered and lost place 12th, struggling when blundered 14th, tailed off
chased leader until blundered and fell 10th
led 3rd, made rest, hit 13th, clear when jumped left last, stayed on well
CAN'T BUY TIME might be capable of further improvement and can complete a hat-trick here in receipt of weight from all his opponents, while Stolen Moments may emerge as the main danger. The selection won comfortably at Southwell and then defied a 9lb rise to prevail by over four lengths at Huntingdon last time. His winning run did not look to have come to an end there, this stiff track should suit him ideally, and decent ground looks a plus so in receipt of weight he can probably improve to take this. Stolen Moments will appreciate good ground and clearly stays well, having won around Towcester. He was going pretty well last time out before falling but it was too early to say how he would have fared. What we can say is that Alan King's runners are still in fine form and it is a fair bet that he will go close with a clear round here. Oliver Sherwood managed to get a couple of Southwell wins out of Strong Coffee last month but he was found out with a penalty in a novices' chase last time and his mark looks plenty stiff enough here. With Venetia Williams now hitting the target we can expect a fair bit more from Ma Yahab, who is a thorough stayer, while Double Intruder has scope for improvement in just his second chase but may just need this. We'll side with Can't Buy Time to complete a hat-trick.
Strong Coffee 8-1 (11-8) With leader, ridden to challenge after 3 out, soon under pressure, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Hold Em (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gs.
Yardbird (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 9th, ridden and every chance 4 out, no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Tana River (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Ma Yahab 9-1 (11-4) In touch, not fluent 4th, weakened 17th, 6th of 8, well behind Tana River (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Stolen Moments (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Tracking leaders when fell at the 6th in race won by Bowleaze (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 6 ran.
Mokum (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Always behind, pushed along and reminders after 9th, soon weakened and pulled up at the 11th in race won by See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft, 12 ran.
Rakalackey 13-2 (11-10) Keen, in touch, mistake 3 out, ridden and one pace, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Alphabetical (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sept.
Double Intruder (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, hit 10th, kept on approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 29l behind Spare Cash (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Not fluent 1st, chased leader, led 3rd until not fluent 7th, led again 8th, hit 2 out, stayed on flat, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct beating Sea Eagle (11-11) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
