mid-division, settled towards rear after 4th, blundered 16th, weakened from 2 out
in rear, mistake 4th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next
held up and keen, hit 3rd, headway when mistake 8th, took closer order 13th, weakened from 4 out
led and mistakes, headed when blundered 6th, soon lost place
tracked leaders, hit 2 out, every chance next, ridden flat, no extra final 100 yards
tracked leaders on outside, took closer order 9th, led approaching 11th, under pressure and jumped right last, ridden flat, stayed on well
held up towards rear and keen, not fluent 1st, mistake 2nd, jumped right 13th, headway on outer 15th, jumped right next, weakened after last
tracked leader, led after 6th, headed approaching 11th, blundered next, not fluent 5 out, weakened flat
Toulouse Express showed little over the summer but his best efforts have come over shorter trips with Nelliedonethat also ruled out of the equation having pulled up when last seen here. Casadei is sent from Ireland and it is worth noting any market movements in his favour but he is out of form and there is more appeal elsewhere. Not Left Yet is a former David Pipe horse but he started to disappoint and switched yards to Peter Monteith. He was plum last when seen here in March and has plenty to find. A bigger danger may be Seize who has won over this sort of trip and handles a variety of ground. The trainer has a 17% strike rate in chase competition here and this is another who could run well but we tentatively opt for FESTIVAL KING. He had a good reappearance at Sedgefield after a prolonged absence and this trip should be ideal for him with that run to build upon. Timmy Murphy can bring out the best in him and he is in the saddle for this race. La Pantera Rosa won when last seen, but that was in May last year and will need to return from a break with a bang to score. Our vote goes to Festival King.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Himalayan Trail (11-7) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Apr, 16 ran.
Seize 15-2 (10-13) Took keen hold in rear, jumped slowly 14th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 8, 43l behind No Panic (11-10) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Aug.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 7th of 14, 50l behind Simply Smashing (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Nelliedonethat (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leaders to 7th, behind from next, no danger after, 7th of 9, 38l behind Ocarina (10-7) at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Casadei (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Mid-division, 6th halfway, no extra after 4 out, 8th of 14, 45l behind Galway Legend (11-1) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 gf in Sep.
La Pantera Rosa (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May '09 beating Bleu Pois (11-10) by 2l, 8 ran.
Festival King (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Stolen Light (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Sep.
Coldwells (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, blundered 6th, mistake 13th, 7th when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Panama At Once (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
