in touch, went 2nd 7th, every chance when blundered 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, left 2nd 3rd to 7th, weakened 10th
held up, headway after 13th, jumped left 2 out, hard ridden to lead towards finish
led, ridden approaching 4 out, headed and not quicken towards finish
chased leader, blundered and lost place 3rd, headway 10th, ridden after 13th, weakened approaching 4 out
Fier Normand can give in-form Jonjo O'Neill another winner at the expense of Cannon Fire, with Seagull Eile best of the remainder. Jonjo O'Neill was on fire at the weekend, and hopefully the run will continue courtesy of Fier Normande who reappears after a seven-month absence. This full brother to the useful L'Antartique flopped on his final start over hurdles at Stratford, but displayed plenty of ability when bolting up on this course the time before, and you can be sure that he will have been well schooled. With Tony McCoy in the plate to guide him round, a debut victory over fences is very much on the cards. Cannon Fire has had a summer break, and lines up as the main danger as he too tackles fences for the first time. Rated a few pounds lower than the selection over hurdles, he should go well here but is set to play second fiddle. None of the others make much appeal, but Irish raider Seagull Eile shaped well enough on his chase bow at Downpatrick and will be suited by the step up in trip, so is worth a mention at least. However, Fier Normand should have the class to see him and the rest off.
Cannon Fire (FR) 7-4fav (11-6) Chased leader, ridden to challenge after 3 out, kept on to lead approaching last, driven out, won at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May beating Catchthebug (11-10) by a nk, 13 ran.
Captain O'Neill 7-1 (12-3) Prsd ldrs; 3rd when nt fluent 3 out; wknd nxt, 5th of 14, 12l behind Velvet Dove (11-10) at Ashorne 3m ptp gd in May.
Fier Normand (FR) 11-8fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 20l behind Rojabaa (10-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Keepthedreamalive 15-2 (10-12) Held up, weakened 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Hot 'n' Holy (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gd, 6 ran.
Glitter Ice 50-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened quickly approaching 2 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Hardybuck (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft, 17 ran.
Seagull Eile (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th and ridden 4 out, no extra, kept on one pace, 3rd of 15, 20l behind Sabina Park (11-7) at Downpatrick 2m 2f beg chs gd in Sept.
