not always fluent, mid-division, headway on inside after 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten, weakened flat
raced keenly, tracked leader until after 2nd, remained prominent, chased winner 9th, hung right approaching last, not run on
held up, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 3 lengths 2nd when fell last
prominent, chased winner after 2nd until not fluent 6th, weakened 9th, mistake 3 out
tracked leaders, chased winner 6th, ridden when mistake 9th, weakened after 3 out
held up rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along after 7th, lost touch after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before last
made all, ridden flat, stayed on gamely
held up in rear, blundered 3 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, lost place when ridden 9th, soon behind
mid-division, headway 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
FAKIMA already has a course and distance win to his name and should be there or thereabouts at the finish. Nostringsattached, Key Time, Markington and Glen Rouge are all viable alternatives. Key Time has a little to prove on his return to action but he still has time on his side and has slipped to an attractive mark; his yard is going well. Glen Rouge also has questions to answer but is another without too many miles on the clock and receives a good bit of weight from the majority of his rivals. Nostringsattached ran well on both forays in the summer and clearly goes well with time between his races, this may be a little stronger but he rates a player. Cresswell Ruby has been held off lower marks in the past so she'll need to improve to defy her penalty but Markington ran well enough over course and distance when ahead of Domenico to think that he can win again despite having gone up for the run. Tony Martin's raiders always have to be feared and Fakima justified favouritism when winning here in November. He's 6lbs higher this time around and disappointed over fences at Gowran earlier in the month but clearly has a decent chance if near his best so Fakima rates the solid option here.
Key Time (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Chased winner to 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 9, 39l behind Clemax (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in May.
Nostringsattached (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up, steady headway from 3 out, challenged last, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Yoursomethinelse (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
The Buck (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, 9th after 4 out, no impression from 2 out, 13th of 25, 24l behind Havetoavit (10-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdle gs.
Rare Society (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 8th, blundered 10th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Mister Apple's (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 15 ran.
Markington 7-1 (11-4) Held up, improved on outer 3rd to track leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Terramarique (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Fakima (IRE) 5-1fav (10-4) Rear of mid-division, no impression from 5 out, 10th of 15, 26l behind Alickadoo (10-3) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs 0-123 gs.
Cresswell Ruby (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Made all, clear after 8th, not fluent 3 out, pushed out run-in, won at Exeter 2m 7f amt nov hdl (4) gs beating Bump In The Night (10-11) by a nk, 14 ran.
Domenico (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up in last place, headway 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 13l behind Terramarique (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Glen Rouge (IRE) 3-1 (9-11) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, well behind Charlie Crab (11-11) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jul.
Act Gold (GER) 5-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden 3 out, led and jumped right last, caught line, 2nd of 11, shd behind Picabo Kid (10-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
