tracked winner, mistake 4 out, ridden in close 3rd when fell 2 out
tracked leaders, jumped left and not fluent 7th, ridden after next, lost place before 9th, not fluent 11th, soon behind, left 3rd 2 out
held up in touch in 5th, closed 4th, reminder after 7th, not fluent 10th, went 2nd 3 out, upsides when fell 2 out
prominent, took keen hold, led before 2nd until before next, not fluent 4th, mistakes 5th and 9th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up approaching 2 out
made virtually all, not fluent 1st, hard pressed when 2 rivals fell 2 out, clear last, ridden out
held up, mistake 1st, headway 9th, disputing close 3rd when hit 2 out and left 2nd, beaten when hit last
It was good ground when FOREVER MY FRIEND scored at Plumpton in September. He's 6lb higher today but, reunited with winning partner Tom O'Brien and dropped in class, Peter Bowen's charge gets the vote. Sulpius was winning for the first time in any NH discipline when scoring at Fontwell last time so a 10lb rise may be his undoing but he should still take care of third-placed Tchang Goon once again. Oranger's best recent efforts have been in hunter chases and he was well beaten in a handicap last time while the remaining pair are even harder to fancy.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, hampered 5th, mistake 5 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 12l behind Truckers Benefit (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct.
Oranger (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along and towards rear before 9th, weakened before 5 out, 7th of 12, well behind Qualypso D'allier (11-8) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Jul.
Sulpius (GER) 15-2 (10-10) Prominent, mistake 8th, led before 4 out, jumped right 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs beating Bonoman (11-12) by 9l, 6 ran.
Reste Jeune (FR) 6-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, blundered 8th, chased leader next, disputing lead when blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Forever My Friend (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Sep, 9 ran.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Not always fluent, towards rear, blundered 4th, headway and chasing leaders when hit 15th, went 4th before 17th until driven and weakened after 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind Guydus (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Tchang Goon (FR) 25-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, not always fluent and sometimes went left, lost place 3rd, rallied 4 out, no impression on winner after 2 out, 3rd and no extra last, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Sulpius (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
