held up in touch, lost place approaching 11th, tailed off
led, headed 7th, chased winner, weakened approaching last
held up behind and keen, blundered badly 9th, soon pulled up
chased leader, led 7th, clear 3 out, pushed out
tracked leaders, hit 7th, lost place approaching 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 6 out
held up in touch, disputing poor 3rd 6 out, weakened 4 out, hit next
held up, pushed along after 7th, disputing poor 3rd 6 out, soon weakened
in rear and mistakes, soon pushed along, went 3rd under pressure approaching 3 out, went 2nd after last, stayed on run in, not reached winner
A fascinating handicap chase can fall to Better Days, with Family Venture and Majed the likely dangers. Sue Smith's nine-year-old ran well her last time over an inadequate trip. He finished just over 6 lengths behind Kalca Morne, but is better judged on his efforts over slightly longer, which included a superb second behind Spring Grove at Cheltenham in October. There is every chance he will stay this three miles and he gets a confident vote. Family Venture is in good heart at present having landed a Musselburgh handicap over this trip, if the rain stays away he will be a major threat to the selection. Majed is returning from an eight month break, but did win a modest event at Wincanton and still looks well treated. It could be wise to watch the market for any moves on Martin Pipe's Victor Argosy, but Better Days does appear to have the best overall form and gets the vote
