held up in rear, reminders 7th, blundered badly 9th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, led 12th, in command 2 out, hit last, held on well flat
mid-division, ridden 11th, struggling next
not fluent, chased leader, mistake 8th, lost 2nd at 12th, weakened 4 out
led, blundered 3rd, headed 12th, weakened quickly, well behind when pulled up approaching 3 out
chased leaders, blundered 8th, still challenging 4 out, one pace under pressure approching next
held up towards rear, plugged on at one pace from 4 out
behind, blundered 10th, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, steady headway 11th, chased winner 4 out, kept on under pressure flat, always held
always in rear, mistake and struggling 8th, soon well behind
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, one pace and no impression approaching next
A tricky finale can go the way of Kenzo III, with Pass Me A Dime, Cousin Nicky and Duncliffe making up the shortlist. The selection defied an absence of a year and a half to win just three weeks ago at Hereford, and with his stable in good form, he could be the one to take this tricky contest. He will have to shoulder a rise of 7lbs for that win, but he looks progressive and although he is 9, just three races mean that he is very unexposed. Cousin Nicky is game and consistent but cannot be truly fancied for a win bet as he has been turned over as favourite in each of his last two runs. He can gain some more place money though, as could Duncliffe. He will have to forget a poor last run, but a reproduction of his old chase form would put him right in the mixer. However he is ten now so he could be on the decline, so we will take him on today. Of more interest could be Pass Me A Dime who fell at the first on his last run, but has the look of a very progressive horse and could easily go very close today. His stable are in good form, and he has proven that he handles soft ground, so he could be the main danger to the selection. At a bigger price Aleron could go well, but he doesn't look one to trust and so we will return to Kenzo III to land the spoils.
Duncliffe 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 6th to next, weakened before 11th, soon tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Alderburn (11-6) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Keltic Bard 15-2 (11-12) Held up, effort approaching 4 out, soon one pace, 5th of 8, 21l behind Naunton Brook (11-0) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Idole First (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Mid-division, mistake 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Chilling Place (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs in Apr.
Aleron (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Tracking leaders when blundered and unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Too Forward (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) hvy, 7 ran.
Marked Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 18l behind Pearl King (10-8) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Kenzo Iii (FR) 8-1 (9-7) Led 2nd, headed before 3rd, chased leader after, led 4 out, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec beating Kalca Mome (11-9) by 1l, 10 ran.
Cousin Nicky 5-2jt-fav (11-7) Led to 4 out, soon ridden, close 4th last, kept on one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Avitta (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Roznic (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 4 out, jumped badly right, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, 35l behind Avitta (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Ma Furie (FR) 11-4 (10-2) Held up, took closer order 8th, mistake and every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Inch Pride (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Laskari (FR) 14-1 (11-11) In touch, mistake 10th, 4th and 3 lengths down when blundered badly and lost place 4 out, mistake last, kept on flat, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Mokum (10-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Dun An Doras (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Held up, headway 11th, led after 4 out, soon clear, caught close home, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Sha Bihan (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Corporate Player (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, blundered and unseated rider in race won by Fast Forward (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Pass Me A Dime 14-1 (10-13) Fell 1st fell in race won by Jericho III (11-2) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
