chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd until before 17th, chased leaders, weakened 5 out, tailed off
held up just off the pace in 5th, closer at 5th, went between horses to lead 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace run-in
chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, 2nd again before 17th, chased new leader next, pushed along before 3 out, led last, stayed on, ridden out
led until 18th, lost 2nd soon after, weakened after next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
raced widest, held up off the pace in 6th, headway 18th, chased leaders next, 3rd and held when fell last
raced keenly and kept wide, waited with in rear, went moderate 5th before 4 out, left in 4th at the last
chased leaders on inside, led 18th, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened, left in 3rd at the last
Little Bruce finished runner-up in last year’s renewal but has won subsequently and is 10lb higher today. CHASE THE WIND is preferred in his current form given he won at Huntingdon before going close again at Doncaster and Joanne Foster’s charge stays this far. Manwell has more to prove over the distance having placed over 2m5f at Sedgefield recently but Sumkindofking is now back on the same mark as when scoring on good ground at Southwell last year and could go well. This represents a drop in class for Kingswell Theatre but he’s struggling for form at present while Brian Boranha is another capable of getting involved if rediscovering his best.
Kingswell Theatre 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, slow and lost place 7th, ridden next, last 12th, pulled up before 15th, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Sumkindofking (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, headway 12th, bumped 4 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 9, 15l behind Roll Again (11-2) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Little Bruce (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led until 3rd, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, went 2nd and challenged 3 out, every chance next, well held before last, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 9 1/2l behind Boss Man Fred (11-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Milansbar (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led until after 11th, behind from next, last of 6, dist behind King's Odyssey (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Brian Boranha (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Towards rear, weakened before 5 out, soon tailed off, pulled up, at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Pickamix 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division on outside, headway to dispute lead 16th, lost place 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Manwell (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Calivigny (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Chase The Wind (IRE) 13-8jfav (11-4) Led, went clear 11th, reduced lead and pushed along before 4 out, not fluent next, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied to press idling winner run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Horatio Hornblower (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
