not fluent, chased winner, mistake and reminder 6th, driven and no chance with winner 3 out
mostly jumped well, made all, in command 3 out, kept on strongly
chased leaders, mistake and ridden 5th, slow jump and dropped to last 7th, rallied under pressure to press for 2nd 3 out, weakened and jumped left last 2
not fluent, in last place, went 3rd 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, well beaten when blundered last
Pirate Flagship had looked a horse to keep on the right side of when making a winning chasing debut over course and distance last month and, despite disappointing at Cheltenham subsequently, may be worth sticking with in a race where the main dangers look to be Vaughan and Priors Dale. The last mentioned, like the selection, has a penalty to carry for his win at Fontwell but Emma Lavelle's gelding probably needs to improve on that effort to beat the selection. Cream Cracker has shown signs of ability over fences already and does receive weight from Pirate Flagship but he is also becoming expensive to follow. Henry Daly's Vaughan should come on a bundle for his run behind the useful looking recruit Jack The Giant at Sandown and cannot be ruled out but Pirate Flagship could be different class to these and he is preferred.
Pirate Flagship (FR) 10-11fav (11-10) Chased winner to 4th, lost place next, well behind when driven along and no impression before 4 out, 4th of 6, 26l behind Backstage (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Priors Dale 6-4jt-fav (11-5) Jumped well, made all, drew clear after 2 out, comfortably, won at Fontainebleau 2m 2f beg chs (4) gd beating Idris (11-5) by 6l, 5 ran.
Vaughan 6-1 (11-5) Chased winner, bumped 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, last of 4, 8l behind Jack The Giant (10-7) at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) gf.
Cream Cracker 12-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, headway 12th, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Predator (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (3) gf.
