towards rear, headway after 4th, stayed on moderately
tracked leader, led 2nd, kept on easy
led 1st, chased winner next, one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 5th, weakened after 3 out
towards rear, mistake 1st, never a factor, unseated rider 3 out
Marodima has solid credentials and is the pick over Autumn Promise, Marronnier and Ace Baby. Marodima went into plenty of notebooks when second to the fancied Freeze The Flame on his British debut at Uttoxeter a fortnight ago, travelling well all the way round, and just being outbattled on the run-in, with the third horse 24-lengths away. He handled soft ground in France, and should safely go one better today with conditions in his favour. On a line through Freeze The Flame, Autumn Promise has an absolute mountain to climb to beat the selection, and a bigger danger may well turn out to be Marronier who did at least manage to finish third, albeit well held behind Dream Witness at Fontwell. Karl Burke's newcomer Ace Baby was primarily a sprinter on the Flat, so what she will make of this is anybody's guess, and all in all, Marodima has a cast-iron opportunity to open his account.
Ace Baby 125-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 13l behind Chief Scout (9-7) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct (Flat).
Autumn Promise (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Soon behind, ridden 5th, soon struggling, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Freeze The Flame (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Bathwick Rox (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway when not fluent 4, ridden after 3 out, soon no impression, 7th of 9, 40l behind Cheveley Flyer (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Marodima (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Held up and keen, headway 5th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Freeze The Flame (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Marronnier (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden approaching 6th, not fluent 2 out, went moderate 3rd flat, 3rd of 14, 19l behind Dream Witness (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gf in Sept.
Bite Un Fight 25-1 (10-3) Chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 15l behind Wise Choice (10-10) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Just Jasmin 33-1 (8-8) Prominent over 3f, 10th of 12, 37l behind Dream Forest (9-1) at Southwell 1m clm (7) fbs in Oct (Flat).
