blundered and unseated rider 2nd
led to 4 out, soon weakened, lost poor 3rd flat
prominent, ridden and weakened 10th, took poor 3rd from last
always towards rear, weakened 10th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, behind from 5th, pulled up before 11th
stumbled badly and unseated rider 1st
mid-division, went 2nd after 5th, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on, not reach winner
prominent, headway after 11th, led 4 out, stayed on gamely from 2 out
There should be more to come from Nor'Nor'East but Classic Fiddle is preferred to Rustarix in this heat. King Louis has been running well over fences but looks up against it conceding weight to all bar one of his rivals with similar comments applying to the more exposed Keepthedreamalive. Nor'Nor'East ran Heltornic close on his chase debut in 2006 and ran well for a long way behind Air Force One on his return until tiring in the closing stages. He should come on for that promising return and should have a say in the outcome. Rustarix hadn't been off the track for as long but, he too, is entitled to come on for last month's run which saw him finish a 16 length third to Noland. This longer trip will suit and he has enough ability to win races over fences. Classic Fiddle is a daughter of the high class Fiddling The Facts and she battled on gamely to make a winning chase debut from the well regarded Russian Around. She jumped well in the main and is an exciting prospect as her SunAlliance Chase entry suggests; today's slightly longer trip will suit and Classic Fiddle can follow up.
Keepthedreamalive 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders until 9th, soon behind, 4th of 5, 24l behind Silverburn (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs Grd 1 (1) sft.
King Louis (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Soon chasing leader, hit 8th, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Nevertika (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Jan.
Brave Jo (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Chased leader, led after 6, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace, 6th of 19, 25l behind Amber Brook (10-9) at Exeter 2m 6f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Farmer Brent (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Soon well behind, tailed off from 7th, 5th of 8, well behind Sobers (11-6) at Warwick 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Jan.
Flying Dick 125-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up, lost touch approaching 7th, 8th of 14, well behind Curragh View (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct '06.
Lord West 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division until weakened after 5th, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Iroquois Warrior (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Montrolin 66-1 (11-4) In touch, tracked leaders after 2nd, weakening when mistake 3 out, 8th of 13, well behind Flying Falcon (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb '06.
Rustarix (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced from 3 out, 3rd of 4, 16l behind Noland (11-0) at Folkestone 2m beg chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Classic Fiddle 8-11fav (10-7) Led after 4th, headed approaching 8th, led again 9th, ridden after 3 out, jumped right last, kept on gamely flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) sft in Jan beating Russian Around (11-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Nor'nor'east (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, blundered next, soon chasing leaders, kept on, never able to challenge, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Air Force One (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Silver Sister 20-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 7th, ridden 4 out, kept on, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Theatre Diva (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
