not fluent early, led 3rd, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace
behind, lost touch from 9th, stayed on from 2 out, to go poor 4th flat
held up towards rear, pulled up after 9th
mid-division, headway to track leader 6th, led after 3 out, idled and hung left flat, ridden out
held up, hit 8th, headway next, ridden into 3rd briefly after 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, lost place and driven along from 6th, went 3rd after 3 out, until next, weakened
ran in snatches, prominent until 3rd, driven along in rear from 5th, headway 9th, rallied after 2 out, went 2nd after last, held when hampered close home
led until 3rd, chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
English Jim gets a tentative vote over the likes of Hill Forts Henry, Bdellium and Rebelle in an open-looking handicap. The last named tops the weights, but may appreciate this return to the smaller obstacles after his mishap over fences at Warwick last time. Peter Bowen's charge was travelling nicely when falling at the fifth, and if none the worse for that, should go well despite his burden. However, we prefer the claims of English Jim who stayed on very well when second at Plumpton in a conditionals' affair last month. The extra distance will be in his favour, and with Liam Heard able to claim 3lb as well, he should go close. Hill Forts Henry bolted up over fences at Plumpton, but did not beat much, and he may start shorter than he is really entitled to, while Bdellium was always well held by Chickapeakray at Uttoxeter, although that was his first outing of the current campaign. They appear to be the leading contenders then, with English Jim our idea of the winner.
Rebelle 7-2jt-fav (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 4th, headway 9th, disputing 5th when fell at the 11th in race won by Charming Fellow (11-10) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 14 ran.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Prominent, mistake 7th, behind from 15th, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gd.
English Jim (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 3 out, went 2nd run-in, ran on well, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Chilly Milly (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Oct.
Spitfire Bob (USA) 7-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon lost touch, 13 lengths 3rd when left 2nd last, 2nd of 7, 22l behind Blandings Castle (10-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Lancier d'Estruval (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Led to 5th, chased winner to 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 7l behind Chilly Milly (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Oct.
Bdellium 10-1 (10-0) Always prominent, stayed on to go 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Chickapeakray (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Star Time (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to 4 out, soon beaten, 4th of 12, 28l behind Parkinson (10-6) at Carlisle 3m 1f amt nov hcp hdl (5) hvy in Oct.
Hill Forts Henry 5-2fav (9-7) Held up in rear, headway track leading pair and blundered 12th, went 2nd 3 out, soon led and in command, easily, won at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Oct beating Strolling Vagabond (10-4) by 12l, 7 ran.
