held up in rear, ridden and headway 4 out, weakened 2 out
always in rear, ridden 7th, tailed of and pulled up before 4 out
tracked winner to 3rd, settled in touch, ridden 7th, headway 9th, weakened approaching last
in touch until weakened after 9th
held up, reminder 7th, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
made all, ridden 2 out, jumped left last, stayed on well
very keen, held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and one-paced last
in touch tracking leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, chased winner from 3rd to 3 out, wnd 2 out
mid-division until headway 7th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened next
We get the impression that Martin Pipe wants to win this badly, as he saddles no less than four of the 11 runners, including the top three in the weights. Carlovent took on good company last term but is paying the penalty and has to give weight to his stable mate Ravenswood, who improved for each step up in trip last season, looking the part in victories at Newbury, Aintree and Ayr. The way he stayed on at the Scottish track suggests that three miles will suit him down to the ground, and a mark of 135 does not look harsh. Polar Champ has been chasing since flopping at the Cheltenham Festival and may struggle to impose himself here, so a bigger danger could be the fourth Pipe runner Dubai Seven Stars who was not discredited when third in the Tote Cesarewitch at Newmarket on 19 October. Never dangerous when in arrears behind Like-A-Butterfly in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last March, she will benefit from a strong pace and should like the trip. Any market moves for the Irish raider Farinel should be noted, while in-form Jonjo O'Neill saddles two-Prokofiev and Creon. The latter travels well on the bridle but was sent fencing at the end of last season, so the lightly raced Entertainer makes more appeal. Paul Nicholls' charge hacked up at Worcester when last seen out in June 2001 and with the stable on fire so to speak, may run well at a decent price. All in all it is an interesting contest, with the TEAMtalk vote going to Ravenswood.
