held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 3 out, led next, left clear last, impressive
in touch, ridden 5th, every chance 2 out, ridden and held when fell last
in touch, not much room after 4th, held when fell 3 out
good headway approaching 3 out, ridden when left 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
prominent to 5th, behind from next
held up in touch, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
led, six legnths clear from 3rd, headed after 5th, weakened next
chased leader , led briefly 3 out, weakened from next
behind when brought down 3 out
held up in rear, good headway after 5th, every chance 2 out, weakened when left 3rd last
always in rear, behind when fell last
A typically open Showcase event with plenty of possibles amongst the 12-strong field. Dream With Me has gone from strength to strength of late and was completing a five-timer when a decisive winner at Ascot earlier in the month. However, Martin Pipe's charge has been raised a further 14lb and faces his stiffest test to date so looks worth opposing at the likely cramped odds. The Philip Hobbs yard continues in fine form and the Minehead handler sets a poser by saddling both Rooster Booster and In Contrast. The former developed in to a smart performer last term and resumed in the same vein when a most authoritative winner at Kempton (now 4lb higher) last month. Despite top weight, this progressive type should go well once again while his stablemate will be sharper for a recent return and, along with Quazar, is entitled to be thereabouts. Dark'n Sharp comes here in top form but has to compete from 4lb out of the handicap so a tentative TEAMtalk vote goes to Eternal Spring. A smart performer on the level, James Fanshawe's charge is no slouch over hurdles either as he showed when a highly creditable fourth behind Like-A-Butterfly in the Supreme Novices Hurdle before finishing runner-up in a Grade 2 event at Aintree. The five-year-old will be fit for his return to the winter game having shaped well in a conditions event on the Flat last month and can reward each-way backers under Mick Fitzgerald.
