held up in rear, headway 11th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, stayed on
led, headed 7th, led again next, headed 13th, led again next, headed 4 out, weakened next
held up, improved 7th, joined leader 9th, led 13th, headed next, led again 4 out, ridden and ran on flat
held up in rear, behind from 5 out, pulled up soon after 3 out
close up, losing ground from 12th, mistake next, blundered 14th, not a danger after
chased leader until 5th, ridden 5 out, weakened 3 out
close up, chased leader 5th, led 7th, headed next, ridden and weakened 3 out
Unleash has already shown a decent level of form over fences and is taken to resume winning ways at the main expense of Goblet Of Fire, with Killone Moonlight rated the best of the remainder who look a pretty poor bunch. The selection faced a stiff battle against the handicapper over hurdles after some useful performances in novice contests but ran with great consistency. A defeat of subsequent Cheltenham winner Bold Bishop and subsequent third behind useful recruit Celtic Son represents decent novice form over fences and a reproduction of either of those efforts should suffice for the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding, who can concede weight all round. Another six-year-old Goblet Of Fire is the obvious danger representing the yard of Paul Nicholls and it is interesting that his handler has wasted no time in putting the son of Green Desert over fences. However, this is no easy assignment for his debut over the larger obstacles and he may be best watched first time out over fences. Killone Moonlight has been going the right way over hurdles but this is not easy on his first start over fences, while point-to-point winner Deltic Arrow gave little cause for optimism on his rules debut and is best left out of calculations. Unleash has done little wrong of late though and is taken to make his chasing experience pay.
Unleash (USA) 11-1 (11-6) Held up last, ridden and lost place 12th, rallied and went 3rd 3 out, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Celtic Son (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd.
Deltic Arrow 12-1 (11-6) Led until blundered, headed 1st, tracked leader, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Dead Mans Dante (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn chs (E) sft, 9 ran.
Goblet of Fire (USA) 16-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway and not fluent 3 out, chased leading pair next, one pace approaching last, 3rd of 17, 4 1/2l behind The Market Man (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Lunardi (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) In rear, lost touch 4th, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by The Hairy Lemon (10-13) at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Oct, 18 ran.
Back de Bay (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Held up, always behind, 10th of 12, well behind Lyes Green (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (E) hvy.
Killone Moonlight (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) In touch, chased leading pair from 3 out, one pace under pressure from next, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Ostfanni (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Sunny South East (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Always behind, 4th of 9, well behind Darkness (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f beg chs (E) gd in Oct.
