held up in rear and keen, chased winner from 2 out, ridden flat, one pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden approaching last, soon weakened
led to 3rd, chased winner until 2 out, soon outpaced
led from 3rd, ridden flat, kept on well
Just a small field for this beginners chase, and it looks a match up between Silk Drum and ALL FOR THE CAUSE with preference for the latter, but if anything could stop either of them winning it could be Tranos. You ignore Nicky Richards at Kelso at your peril, and we won't. All For The Cause is making his debut for the yard, having previously been with George Moore; he's yet to win a chase, but has proved adept over hurdles and also started his career as a winning pointer in Ireland. He's raced at a better level than this, and although nought from 10 over fences, his placings suggest that he can land a blow at this sort of level. He's not been seen since May, but has run well previously following a break. Silk Drum is going over fences for the first time, and has won here before over hurdles. He's not been able to hack it at the highest level at Cheltenham and Aintree, but at this sort of grade, provided he takes to the bigger obstacles, he should have a say in the outcome. Tranos didn't pull up any trees in his first couple of chases last month; last year he finished just ahead of All For The Cause when hurdling at Perth. Don't Think Twice has one third to his name from 17 runs but could get some prize money here if everything falls right for him. More Shenanigans posted a personal best third in a similar race here earlier in the month when racing from out of the handicap, and connections may feel he can improve on that. However it's hard to see beyond the likely top two in the market, with preference being for All For The Cause.
All For The Cause (IRE) 18-1 (11-11) Held up, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, soon driven and one pace, 4th of 10, 22l behind Treaty Flyer (11-4) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in May.
More Shennanigans 100-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, ridden last, stayed on well under pressure flat, not reached leaders, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Silver Steel (11-9) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
Tranos (USA) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Prospectorous (10-12) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Silk Drum (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Led, mistake and headed 5th, weakened quickly after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, dismounted, in a race won by Walkon (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Don't Think Twice (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Prominent when mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by The Rocking Dock (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f beg chs gf in Sep, 14 ran.
