always behind, struggling 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway 5th, blundered 8th, weakened 11th, tailed off
prominent, ridden after 13th, close 3rd when blundered last, weakened flat
mid-division, pushed along briefly after 8th, driven along and struggling from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
always behind, lost touch after 4th, mistake 10th, soon pulled up
took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along 13th, no impression
tracked leader, led 13th, hung right and headed after 3 out, 3rd and beaten when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 5th, ridden 13th, weakened approaching 4 out
led to 13th, led after 3 out, hung right, ridden after 2 out, headed last, one pace flat
held up, ridden 12th, 13 lengths adrift 4 out, headway from 3 out, led last, stayed on
held up in touch, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Carnt Spell gets a narrow vote over Lake Imperial, Fight The Feeling and Castle Frome. Not too many can be singled out here, and the fact that Carnt Spell has a last-time-out win to his name singles him out as the potential winner. John Stimpson's five-year-old looked the part when storming home up the Towcester hill, a result that came as no surprise given his earlier promising run at Ludlow. Although the form is nothing special, he need not have to improve much to follow up. The main danger appears to be the other five-year-old Lake Imperial who has been consistent in defeat, and of course he hails from an in-form yard. Fight The Feeling has a light enough weight but has yet to convince over fences, while Castle Frome needs to find more than he has shown. The rest are hard to fancy, and Carnt Spell is the one to beat.
Spike Jones (NZ) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 23l behind Sea The Light (11-8) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Lyon 66-1 (10-10) Held up, not fluent 4th, well behind when fell in race won by Fourty Acers (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Cashel Dancer 50-1 (10-10) Always behind, reminders after 7th, lost touch after 9th, 6th of 11, 33l behind Fourty Acers (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov.
Basic Fact (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 1st, some headway after 5th, soon beaten, 7th of 15, 32l behind Fantastic Arts (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Carnt Spell 12-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden to lead before 13th, weakening last, kept on flat, all out, won at Towcester 2m 3f chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov beating Ask The Umpire (10-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Lake Imperial (IRE) 6-1fav (10-1) Led at good pace, pecked 8th, headed and hit 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 15, 21l behind Notanotherdonkey (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Castle Frome (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, reminders 5th, not fluent 7th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Brave Villa (12-2) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Fight The Feeling 6-1 (10-1) Behind, under pressure 12th, struggling and no chance from next, 5th of 9, 16l behind Montys Tan (9-12) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
