held up, in touch 8th, mistake 10th, ridden after 4 out, beaten when not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last
with leader, led 6th, hard pressed from 4 out, ridden and edged right after last, asserted final 100 yards, ran on well
held up, in touch when pushed along briefly 8th, not fluent 4 out, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out
virtually fell when unseated rider 1st
held up, hit 5th, closed 7th, went 2nd 10th, challenged winner 4 out, still every chance when edged right under pressure after last, no impression towards finish
took keen hold, led until not fluent 6th, chased winner until 10th, last when mistake 12th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
Ludlow winner GOLAN WAY was not disgraced behind Riverside Theatre in a better race than this at Kempton at the beginning of the month and Sheena West's gelding has an obvious chance of resuming winning ways today, getting the vote ahead of Balzaccio. Alan King's gelding made a pleasing debut over fences on his reappearance at Fontwell last month and has claims with the yard really hitting form now and receiving weight from the selection. Henry Daly's Pearlysteps has a bit to find on official BHA ratings but made a promising chasing debut at Bangor recently, while Frontier Dancer is trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies so cannot be ruled out with the yard being in such good heart at present.
Frontier Dancer (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Tracked winner, challenged and every chance when not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, 3 lengths down in 2nd and held when hit next, just held on for 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 20l behind Rebel Du Maquis (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Golan Way 6-4fav (11-2) Led, headed narrowly 10th, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure from next, no impression, 4th of 6, 12l behind Riverside Theatre (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) gd.
Balzaccio (FR) 11-8fav (11-3) Tracked leading pair, chased winner 6th, driven to challenge last, upsides when bumped run-in, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Bai Zhu (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct.
Island Jim (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 5th, not fluent 7th, headed after next, weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 22l behind Educated Evans (10-11) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Pearlysteps 18-1 (10-9) Always prominent, hard driven to challenge approaching 2 out, kept on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Wymott (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft.
Quinola Des Obeaux (FR) 8-15fav (11-12) Led, headed 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Glenstal Abbey (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f nh nov hdl hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
