with leader to 3rd, stayed handy until weakened 15th, tailed off
chased leaders, led 14th until after 17th, regained lead 4 out, made rest, kept on gamely
held up until mistake and unseated rider 8th
chased leaders, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
made most until headed 14th, stayed chasing leaders, driven along 15th, weakened soon after 5 out
behind, pushed along and not keen after 7th, pulled up next
held up, headway 12th, chased leaders after 17th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, blundered 13th, led narrowly after 17th, blundered 5 out, narrowly headed 4 out, soon edging right, still challenging approaching last, held flat
behind when fell 2nd
chased leaders until lost place 11th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
Not a strong race by any means. A chance is taken on KILTIMONEY following a decent effort at this time last year and Nick Mitchell's gelding is preferred to Rifleman. The selection races off a mark of 69 today following some appalling efforts last winter. He did run well in this race last year however when second off a mark of 85 so there is a case to be made for a revival and he gets the tentative nod. Zimbabwe is not the easiest of rides however he has run well here before, Arceye seems to have improved for the application of cheek-pieces but his best runs have come at Towcester, whilst Chances Go makes his chasing debut in a horrid race and could be feasibly treated on a mark of 85. Rifleman is one of the more consistent in the race however his best efforts have come on slightly quicker ground, whilst Finzi is a course and distance winner and Michael Scudamore's gelding will be seeing out his race better than many. Not a race to dwell on and the narrow vote goes to Kiltimoney.
Finzi (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden along 13th, weakened next, 4th of 9, 24l behind Count The Cost (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Wasntme (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Led 3rd until approaching 5th, chased winner until 12th, weakened 15th, tailed off, last of 7, dis behind Coq Hardi (10-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov stks (4) gd in Apr.
Rifleman (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Amazing Valour (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Chances Go 100-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, last of 10, well behind Keki Buku (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Oct '08.
Zimbabwe (FR) 11-2fav (11-10) Soon pushed along in rear, stayed on from 2 out, never in contention, 7th of 17, 17l behind Lavenoak Lad (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in May.
Meet Me At Dawn 100-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden 7th, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Caoba (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Chamacco (FR) 25-1 (11-5) In rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 5th, well behind 9th, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Dovedale (11-1) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Sep.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up, ridden 12th, stayed on to take poor 3rd last, 3rd of 11, 29l behind Alderbrook Girl (9-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
Wenruthlyn (IRE) 22-1 (9-7) Raced keenly, dropped to last 7th, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Ballygulleen (10-4) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
All Sonsilver (FR) 18-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, joined them 2nd until 6th, pushed along after 10th, behind from 11th, left poor 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Illogical Hope (11-11) at Ffos Las 3m 1f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd.
Arceye 8-1 (10-0) Held up, headway approaching 8th, pushed along after 10th, weakening when mistake 14th, 7th of 11, 42l behind Lucky Luk (10-13) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
