soon held up towards rear, niggled along 7th, 12 lengths in rear 3 out, soon ridden, headway after 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
tracked leader, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
led, headed approaching and blundered last, soon weakened
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden and headway when jumped right 2 out, soon chasing winner until no extra flat
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, kept on well
soon towards rear, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
held up in rear and keen, weakened before 2 out
FOLIE A DEUX is the stand-out horse in this handicap chase, which leaves Kirkhammerton and Blossom King fighting for minor honours. Having bested the re-opposing Kirkhammerton by three lengths at Uttoxeter two starts back the selection was even more impressive when again scoring at that venue last time. He's well-in under his 7lbs penalty so the hat-trick should be forth coming. So with Kirkhammerton with form to overturn Blossom King may end up be the closest danger. He had a productive novice hurdle career and has shown plenty of ability in a handful of chase starts so he should show up in the mix again. Silmi was successful over fences a few times last term but hasn't replicated that form in four starts this year so it will be interesting to see if a drop back in trip will get him back on track. All in all this looks a great opportunity for Folie A Deux to land the hat-trick.
Silmi 12-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, pushed along from 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 18l behind Summer Soul (11-10) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Blossom King (FR) 85-40fav (11-0) Led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened and lost 2nd place flat, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Walamo (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chase (4) gf.
Folie A Deux (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Made all, clear from 4 out, unchallenged, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Red Jester (10-7) by 9l, 6 ran.
Shinnecock Bay 9-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, close 2nd and every chance when hit 3 out, ridden and hit next, weakened before last, 8th of 11, 11l behind Nomad (9-10) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Kirkhammerton (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, well behind after 4th briefly, headway 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Folie A Deux (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
Arumun (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway on inside 6th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 9, 27l behind Folie A Deux (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
Morning Sunshine (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 5th, disputed 2nd from 3 out, about 3 lenghts down when jinked left and unseated rider last, in a race won by Mustamad (9-11) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 9 ran.
