in rear, blundered 7th, soon pushed along, wekened from next, pulled up before 9th
held up in touch, went 3rd from 7th, weakened before 2 out
tracked winner, mistake 7th, pushed long 3 out, ridden before last, soon beaten
made all, clear before last, kept on
tracked leaders in 3rd, in rear from 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
This looks wide-open but Blenheim Brook blotted his copybook at Kelso last time and possibly isn't suited by very heavy ground. Sharney Sike only got as far the second at the same track earlier this month while Glenwood Prince was still beaten more than 20 lengths when third here last month. The Ice Factor is hard to catch right and has yet to show he stays this far. CHAVOY (NAP) was well beaten over hurdles on his reappearance but can be forgiven that effort. He's been dropped a couple of pounds since the spring and is entitled to go very close here on past form.
El Fontan (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, blundered 1st, hampered and lost place 6th, closed 10th, 4th and beaten 3 out, no extra next, 5th of 8, 18l behind Always Right (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Blenheim Brook (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, tailed off before 14th, pulled up, in a race won by Carlito Brigante (11-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Chavoy (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Held up behind, effort before 4 out, in 5th before 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 7, 44l behind American Life (10-2) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Sharney Sike 12-1 (9-13) Mid-division, unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Neptune Equester (10-4) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft, 10 ran.
Glenwood Prince (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) In touch and in rear, outpaced from 2 out, went poor 3rd before last, no impression, 3rd of 4, 23l behind No Through Road (11-4) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
The Ice Factor 16-1 (10-3) Prominent, hit 4th and 11th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 32l behind Bearly Legal (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
