chased leader until 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, slow 4th, not fluent 5th, jumped right next, went 2nd 4 out, led last, clear flat, stayed on well
led, pushed along after 9th, ridden before 4 out, jumped right 3 out, not fluent and headed last, no impression flat
ONTOPOFTHEWORLD made all for a hat-trick before taken on for the lead and setting a fast pace at Worcester. He ran of steam in the closing stages on that occasion but today’s opponents may have trouble keeping tabs on Peter Bowen’s charge if allowed an easy lead. Raise A Spark won at Cartmel during the summer and should go well back over this shorter trip while Pistol Park won at Carlisle when last in action in April but is 6lb higher on his return with cheekpieces added to the usual tongue-tie.
Pistol Park (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, ran on well (1 fence omitted), won at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) hvy in Apr beating Wolf Sword (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Raise A Spark 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, outpaced 4 out, jumped right and weakened 2 out, jumped right and left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 20 1/4l behind Cubomania (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f (3) gd in Sep.
Ontopoftheworld (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Made most until headed approaching 4 out, lost 2nd 3 out, no impression when went right last, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 11 1/4l behind Mercian King (11-1) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.