chased leader, led 8th, mistake 10th, headed next, led 12th, blundered last, soon headed, ran on
held up in last place, improved 10th, outpaced approaching 12th, 3rd and 15 lengths down 3 out, headway approaching last, ridden to lead briefly flat, ran on
close up, led 11th, mistake and headed next, ridden and every chance last, no extra flat
led, not fluent and headed 8th, not fluent next, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out
held up, hampered 10th, outpaced 12th, 20 lengths down and 4th 3 out, headway approaching last, ran on strongly to lead towards finish
It's tempting to oppose SCOTS DRAGOON on the grounds of the trip being inadequate but he may get away with it in this company. Mutual Respect and First Feerie may ask most questions of the selection. Nicky Henderson has a superb record here so it's no surprise to see that Felix De Giles also has a decent strike rate at the track and Scots Dragoon won here for the pair over hurdles in February. Therein lies the crux of the problem though as that success and his two subsequent victories came over three miles. He made his chasing debut at around this trip at Huntingdon in August where he failed by a nose to get up but it was the distance that proved his undoing. Monzon went thirty four races without winning but has now won two on the bounce and may continue to progress but he will need a career best to land this prize. Creinch appeared to see out this trip well enough over hurdles and appears capable of winning races over fences but is another facing a stiff task at the figures. First Feerie proved to be a little in and out over hurdles but would merit respect if the market were to give out the right vibes as would Mutual Respect. He appeared to have bags of potential when winning a bumper for Paul Nicholls but hurdling success has eluded him thus far. He has a chaser's pedigree and the switch may enable him to fulfil his potential but we prefer to side with Scots Dragoon despite concerns regarding the trip.
Scots Dragoon 9-4 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 8th, clear last, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gf beating Commemoration Day (11-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
Creinch 5-1 (11-9) Held up, not fluent 4th, reminder after next, headway 7th, hampered 2 out, soon went 2nd, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Arumun (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Mutual Respect (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) In touch, came 2nd approaching 4th, not fluent 5th, soon led, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 20l behind Argento Luna (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
The Good Guy (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Led, not fluent when headed 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied from last, kept on flat, 3rd of 11, 28l behind Winter Star (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
First Feerie (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Always prominent, hit 5th, led after 7th, ridden clear from 2 out, ran on, won at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May beating Kosmos Bleu (10-9) by 5l, 12 ran.
Monzon (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, challenged last, soon ridden, led towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Pan The Man (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
