in touch, headway approaching 6th, ridden to lead after 2 out, clear last, ran on
prominent, keen, led 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, one pace flat
behind, brief effort 8th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before
mid-division, lost place 7th, ridden after 9th, soon weakened
led, not fluent 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened quickly
always behind
in touch, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced after next, rallied last, one pace flat
held up, headway 10th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd post
held up, headway 10th, weakened after next
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
Football Crazy is a tough sort who is selected to get back to winning ways ahead of the likes of Brewster, Icy Prospect and Jiver to name but three. Football Crazy won plenty of times on the Flat, and since being sent timber topping has not disappointed connections, scoring on six occasions, with his last victory coming here at Cheltenham. That was in the Centaur Novices' Hurdle in October when Peter Bowen's charge had to do it the hard way from the front. In doing so he displayed abundant stamina, and that will stand him in good stead here as he bids to get back to winning ways after floundering in the soft going at Haydock last week. He holds Icy Prospect on that earlier running here, but Brewster, a course winner last time, may give him something to think about. However, he appears to be a little high in the handicap for what he has achieved, and a career over fences beckons. Jiver is very lightly raced but has already gained a couple of wins with usual pilot Tom Scudamore on board. We expect him to try and force the pace, and if he does, that will allow Football Crazy to tag along before making his move round the home turn. That is the scenario, so let us hope that Football Crazy has read the script!
