held up towards rear, hampered 1st, headway 11th, ridden and pressed winner from 2 out, every chance until just held near finish
with leaders, led 12th, pressed from 3 out, just held on near finish, all out
with leaders, led before 10th, headed 12th and pecked, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before last
held up in rear, outpaced from 14th, soon went remote 3rd place, never dangerous
led, headed before 10th, soon reminders and lost place, pulled up before 12th
towards rear, mistake 3rd, reminders 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
fell 1st
Gold Man has scope but needs to sort out his jumping. Riddlestown and Midnight Charmer have plenty of questions to answer at present but a race like this is probably within the capabilities of Vesuvhill and Milgen Bay if they put their best hoof forward and they make more appeal than Treacy Hotels Boy. ROAD TO FREEDOM has managed just one place in five attempts so far over fences but quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals over hurdles at Southwell in May. He's probably well handicapped over the larger obstacles if translating that form and Lucy Wadham's runners here are always worth a second look.
Road To Freedom 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear before last, won at Southwell 3m (4) gd in May beating Ballycamp (10-13) by 17l, 6 ran.
Milgen Bay 10-1 (11-2) Close up, went 3rd 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Here I Am (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Vesuvhill (FR) 4-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 6 out until last, no extra, 3rd of 4, 9 1/4l behind Silver Man (11-8) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Gold Man (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, not fluent and unseated rider 2nd, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Midnight Charmer 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, outpaced 13th, weakened before 3 out (normal 5 out), soon pulled up, at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Riddlestown (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Behind, mid-division on outside 5th, reminder after 8th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out), at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Treacy Hotels Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Not fluent, tracked leader until 4th, pushed along 9th, struggling before 4 out, 4th of 6, 16 1/4l behind Days Ahead (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
