in rear, pushed along before 6th, not fluent and reminders 7th, tailed off 8th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, well beaten when not fluent 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out
with leader until 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders until after 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 3rd, not fluent 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
led, ridden after 2 out, headed flat, not quicken
mid-division, headway after 3rd, switched left after 2 out, challenging when not fluent last, led flat, hung right, headed close home
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 7th, went 2nd next, ridden after 2 out, stayed on gainly flat to lead close home
always in rear, well behind 8th, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along after 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
A very decent little contest this with ALDERTUNE and King Ar Aghaidh both looking to follow up recent successes, and completing our shortlist is Fruity O'Rooney, who's also been in good form. The Nicholls/Walsh combo could be having a good day here, and Aldertune makes his handicap debut here having run well in two recent novice events. The ground and trip will be fine, and he may find this slightly less testing than when winning at Plumpton when he came strong in the finish. King Ar Aghaidh showed no end of improvement to win last time out at a canter and by a distance at a big price, and looks the sort to go chasing in time. He's not been consistent though, and whether he'd have won had the favourite not fallen in that race late on we'll never know. Noel Fehily is bang in form, riding a nice treble yesterday. Fruity O'Rooney's one career win came in testing conditions and although that was a while ago, he's been running well recently. Julia Feilden has more flat runners than jumpers, and Tony McCoy could be a significant jockey booking on Night Orbit. It's hugely competitive, but Aldertune carries our support.
Over The Creek 16-1 (10-5) Always behind, tailed off before 3 out, 8th of 10, well behind Ballyfitz (11-1) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Quickbeam (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, headway 6th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 9, 31l behind Golan Way (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Night Orbit 66-1 (10-12) Left in lead 2nd, headed 4th, chased leaders, pushed along approaching 2 out, one pace and no impression when lost 2nd soon after last, 4th of 6, 20l behind Zaynar (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
Amore Mio (GER) 9-1 (10-4) Led, headed 8th, stayed close up, weakening when mistake 3 out, 12th of 15, 30l behind Time For Rupert (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-155 (2) sft in Dec.
Honour High 16-1 (11-11) Mid-division until 8th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Macmar (9-10) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
King Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov beating Corker (10-11) by 12l, 10 ran.
Fruity O'Rooney 12-1 (10-8) Always prominent, led 3 out, headed next, jumped right last, soon weakened, 3rd of 19, 13l behind Lake Legend (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Aldertune (IRE) 13-8 (10-12) Close up, driven in 3rd after 3 out, stayed on under pressure to challenge before last, led run-in, driven out, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Abbevillian (11-5) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 15-2 (11-6) Not always fluent, held up towards rear, headway 8th, chased leaders after 4 out, went poor 3rd just before last, 3rd of 12, 30l behind Fistral Beach (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Princely Hero (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3rd last, chased leaders and mistake next, never able to challenge, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Bangkok Pete (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Go Amwell 12-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Winterwood (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
