tracked leader, not fluent and reminder 1st, lost place 3rd, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
took keen hold, led after 1st, clear before next until 8th, driven and edged right flat, stayed on
held up, closed 2nd, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra and lost 2 places flat
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 8th, outpaced before 2 out, rallied flat, went 3rd towards finish
held up in rear, headway 8th, ridden and one pace before 2 out, weakened flat
led until after 1st, chased leader, mistake 6th, hit 8th, outpaced before 2 out, rallied and went 2nd flat, unable to trouble winner
held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
Interesting to see Seamus Durack pitch Eightfold into this chasing debut at the age of four and bits and pieces of form do not exclude him. Bertie's Desire requires improvement on previous efforts whilst it's hard to know how Lordship will take to fences at the age of nine. He'd be interesting in a modest race if doing so. However, it seems sensible to focus upon those with solid chasing form, namely Arkaim and BRASSBOUND, first and third at Towcester last time when split by subsequent winner, Beforeall, which does afford the form some substance. Arkaim caused a shock that day but Brassbound made a bad mistake at the last and can reverse placings on both 5lb better terms and this sharper track.
Brassbound (USA) 20-1 (11-9) Prominent, went 2nd 2 out, driven to challenge when bad mistake last, unable to recover and weakened, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Arkaim (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Arkaim 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 3rd, led next, pressed when left clear last, being closed down towards finish, held on, won at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs beating Beforeall (11-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Looks Like Slim 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 9, 10l behind Bollin Judith (11-9) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs.
Twoways (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Mid-division on outside, headway 5th, mistake 3 out, ridden before next, mistake last, no extra, 7th of 10, 8l behind Makari (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
Eightfold 20-1 (11-5) Held up in 5th, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly 4th, headway when mistake next, not fluent 6th, stayed on one pace from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Makari (11-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Bertie's Desire 6-1 (10-13) Jumped right and never that fluent, prominent on outside, bad mistake 8th, weakened from 2 out (normal 3 out), 3rd of 8, 36l behind The Potting Shed (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Lordship (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, held up in rear, headway 2 out, challenged between last 2, every chance last, ridden and one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Whispering Harry (10-4) at Stratford 2m hcp hld 0-95 (5) sft in Oct.
