took keen hold, jumped left, tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, not fluent 8th, headed 3 out, soon beaten, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner
not fluent 1st, tracked leader until 4th, ridden after 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up, slightly hampered 1st, headway 5th, led 2 out, hit 2 out, clear approaching last, eased towards finish
led, not fluent 4th or when headed 6th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway after next, went 2nd after 3 out, no impression on winner when stumbled badly last, lost 2nd close home
held up in touch in rear, hit 5th, headway 7th, lost place when mistake 9th, soon beaten, plugged on from 2 out
Abnaki stayed on dourly to win over a longer trip at Sedgefield but whether he'll reproduce that effort here is anybody's guess, though he may enjoy a fitness advantage over all-bar the consistent-if-limited Nicky Nutjob. Conditions will hold no fears for PENSION PLAN, who has won three times over course and distance and has run well several times when the going has been testing. He's preferred to the Evan Williams pair Firebird Flyer and Still Believing, though both were winners in the spring. Victors Serenade is best watched until showing signs of a revival.
Victors Serenade (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, mistake 9th, travelling well when blundered badly 5 out and pulled up, in a race won by Lost Glory (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Oct '12, 12 ran.
Abnaki (IRE) 17-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct beating Jeu De Roseau (11-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Pension Plan 7-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, led 4 out, drew clear before 2 out, comfortably, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May beating Eleven Fifty Nine (11-9) by 11l, 9 ran.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, travelled well throughout, every chance 3 out, led approaching last, ridden clear, ran on well, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Mar beating Victory Gunner (11-4) by 3l, 5 ran.
Still Believing (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway before 5th, ridden before last, led run-in, kept on, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) hvy in Mar beating Sandanski (10-8) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Nicky Nutjob (GER) 16-1 (9-7) In rear, outpaced before 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 2nd place run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Bally Legend (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
