made all, hit 8th and 9th, reminders, kept on well, ridden out,
held up, went 3rd approaching 9th, short lived effort after 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, hampered 3rd, tracked winner from 5th, challenging when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, one pace when hit last
tracked winner, jumped left 3rd, chased leaders from 5th until gradually lost touch from 8th
held up in touch, mistake 4th, stayed on to go 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, no further impression on winner
Rooster's Reunon is on the upgrade and can come out on top over Tonic du Charmil and L'Oiseau. An interesting little chase can see Rooster's Reunion build on his promising victory at Ludlow recently where he impressed with his attitude. David Gandolfo's six-year-old jumped well that day to see off a couple of decent opponents, and a rise to a mark of 120 looks fair enough. Tonic du Charmil has to carry topweight and does have a tendency to find one too good, so a bigger danger may be L'Oiseau who lines up in search of a hat-trick after successes at Stratford and Wincanton. That brace means that he is unbeaten since joining Jonathan Portman, but he has to race off his highest mark now and will not find it easy against our progressive selection Rooster's Reunion.
Tonic du Charmil (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Led, slow and headed 7th, remained prominent, left in lead 10th, hit next, kept on, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind The Dark Lord (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (C) gd in Oct.
Rooster's Reunion (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Took keen hold in rear, hit 9th, switched left and headway approaching 2 out, led last, readily, won at Ludlow 2m beg chs (E) gf in Oct beating Conroy (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
L'Oiseau (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) Held up, hampered 2nd, headway after 4 out, led 3 out, pushed clear approaching last, ran on well flat, comfortably, won at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct beating Green Gamble (10-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
The Newsman (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Always behind, 7th of 8, well behind Nephite (10-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in May.
Master T (USA) 11-1 (11-12) Held up last, mistake 10th, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 29l behind Thalys (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Sept.