jumped well, with leader, led 5th, drew clear after 3 out, shaken up approaching last, ran on well, easily
held up in 3rd, joined leaders 6th, mistake next, ridden and every chance approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up in 5th, mistake 2nd (water), driven and mistake 7th, soon ridden and weakened
held up in 4th, headway 8th, chased leaders and ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
led to 5th, stayed prominent, mistake 8th, soon weakened, tailed off
behind, some headway after 8th, stayed on, never troubled leaders
Henrietta Knight has withdrawn last year's winner Best Mate due to the prevailing conditions, and he is now set to reappear in the BBA Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon. However, the Wantage handler is still represented, with Edredon Bleu who has run twice in this event in the past, in 1998 and the following year, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. On both occasions he has gone on to win Huntingdon's Peterborough Chase and that will almost certainly be the plan again for him as well, so he might not be fully tuned up here. With neither Ichi Beau or Castle Prince boasting the type of form to cause an upset, that leaves the Arkle second and third Seebald and Armaturk as the likely protagonists, along with Latalomne. The latter was in with every chance when falling two out in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and has been extensively schooled by Vinnie Keane during the summer. Trainer Brian Ellison reckons that if he is to make a name for himself it will be this season, and connections have secured the services of Mick Fitzgerald. He will no doubt pay to follow, but we feel that on this occasion his younger rivals will hold sway. Seebald had the call over Armaturk twice last term including at the Cheltenham Festival, and with their respective trainers both in fine form, we could be in for a mouth watering clash. There is now only a pound between them on the ratings, Armaturk having been put up 9lbs for his final success at Warwick last term, and there is no doubt that at the age of five, time is definitely on his side. The one thing that separates the duo is the fact that Seebald has won on fast ground before, and it is for this reason that the TEAMtalk vote goes to the Pipe horse. One thing seems certain-they should both end up clashing again in the Queen Mother Champion Chase next March.
