tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out and mostly chased leader after, upsides 2 out, led narrowly last, headed flat, rallied to join leader on line
chased leader, hit 12th, lost 2nd 3 out, tried to rally soon after, weakened 2 out
not fluent, mistake 1st and 2nd, raced in 4th, jumped left 9th, lost touch next
Potentially trappy with a small field going to post but Free Gift shiowed last time that he can make all and he can defy a 7lb rise to follow up here, with Croix De Guerre the main danger. Robert Alner-trained Free Gift took a Fontwell handicap chase over a similar trip last time and acts best on a sound surface. Admittedly he doesn't win that often, nor has he won off a mark as high as this, but we know he gets the trip and he is at least in good form and can run the race to suit himself, so he gets the nod. Croix De Guerre has not won since scoring off today's mark two years ago but he has never won over as far as this, he is fully exposed and he really needs a drop in the weights. Mr Boo tends to reserve his best for the spring and in any case he prefers slower ground than this to be seen to best effect. Stance should handle conditions fine but has not won for an age now and he also showed a tendency to jump left last time, which is a negative around here, and Free Gift can make it back-to-back victories.
Mr Boo (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up in rear, headway to track leaders after 3 out, went 2nd travelling well 2 out, found nil between last 2, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Black Hills (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Apr.
Croix de Guerre (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on one pace from last, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Donovan (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Free Gift 5-1 (11-5) Made all, jumped well, ridden 3 out, driven last, kept on gamely flat, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf beating Craven (11-9) by 3l, 9 ran.
Stance 7-2 (11-10) Jumped left, took keen hold, disputing 2nd place until weakened 3 out, 4th of 5, 20l behind Jericho III (11-9) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
