led, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last
chased leader until approaching 12th, weakened after 3 out, mistake last, tailed off
held up in 4th, not fluent 10th, shaken up 12th, progress after 3 out, hung right and led 2 out, edged left before last, hung right and headed flat, one pace
held up in 5th, not fluent 10th, outpaced from 12th, rallied after 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, led flat, stayed on
In the Macer Gifford Memorial Trophy, we will side with Free Gift over Big Rob and Palua. Launde was running well around this time last year and, even though edging back towards a winning mark, has it to prove based on recent efforts. Free Gift is game, jumps well and comes here seeking a straight hat-trick of wins. A four pounds rise for his Folkestone dead heat does not rule him out of things. Course and distance winner Palua is another to be well handicapped based on form of a year ago but who needs to rediscover that type of form in order to win today, while the novice Daldini is a little hard to assess based on his Perth win two runs ago but he hails from a stable that is going well. Finally, Big Rob won this race last year from an eight-pounds higher mark and shaped with promise at Fakenham last time. For the selection, though, we will stick with Free Gift.
Launde (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Led, headed approaching 2nd, behind when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Kilmackilloge (10-6) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct, 16 ran.
Free Gift 13-8fav (11-5) Led, joined 2 out, narrowly headed last, regained lead flat, joined post, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Oct deadheating with Mr Boo (11-12), 4 ran.
Palua 5-1 (11-9) Led, headed 14th, soon ridden, one pace, 4th of 6, 6l behind Donovan (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Daldini 8-1 (10-13) Always prominent, ridden, stayed on same pace from 4 out, 4th of 11, 9l behind Dev (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m nov chs (4) gd in Sept.
Big Rob (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Chased leading pair until 9th, left 3rd again 15th, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd flat, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Cool Roxy (11-9) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.