held up in 4th, mistake 4th, not fluent next, driven to challenge 4 out, chased winner next, never able to challenge
chased leaders, effort when blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out
led after 2nd, not fluent from halfway, jumped right and mistake 4 out, driven clear 2 out, stayed on well
led until after 2nd, remained prominent, soon jumped right, not fluent 10th, soon weakened
A good quality novice chase which may go to FIVE DREAM who is preferred to First Point, Victorias Groom and Son Of Flicka. Victorias Groom won well at Lingfield on his penultimate start and has the potential to go further over fences but his performance at Chepstow was disappointing. It can be worth forgiving poor runs at that venue but he has plenty to prove in this company. First Point was stepped up in class last time and it proved to be more than a step too far. There's nothing wrong with the form in the context of this race though and he has to be feared but there is a question mark over the ground. Son Of Flicka is a soft ground winner who progressed fairly well, up to a point, over hurdles. He's making his chase debut for a new yard and has always threatened to make up into a useful individual so should be respected. However, the one that they all have to beat is Five Dream who has benefited from the switch to chasing after finding himself too high in the weights over hurdles. He won his first two starts but has shown improved form in defeat the last twice and can make the most of the ease in grade to return to winning ways.
Five Dream (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Not always fluent, held up last, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on well flat to take 3rd last strides, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Weird Al (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
First Point (GER) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in 3rd, driven to challenge when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 26l behind Somersby (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grade 2 4yo+ (1) sft in Dec.
Victorias Groom (GER) 10-3fav (11-2) Chased leaders, led 6th, headed approaching 4 out, weakening when blundered 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Magic Sky (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, 3rd of 7, 31l behind Our Hero (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Son Of Flicka 14-1 (10-7) Pulled hard, tracked leader, joined leader 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 22l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
