keen disputed lead, headed 5th, tracked leaders next, ridden 3 out, not fluent and weakened next
raced wide close up, pushed along and dropped to rear 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, led 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace
close up in rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out
Samourai One requires significant improvement but Huntingdon winner Take No Chances should make a bold bid to defy her penalty, though THE DOYEN CHIEF (NAP) is preferred. Alan King’s point-to-point and bumper winner went down with all guns blazing behind an odds-on favourite on his hurdling debut at Ludlow. Strackan is sure to improve on his fourth at Chepstow but Best Life is having a first run under Rules.
Best Life (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) (xnb) held up last to 7; 37l 6th 1/2way; bhnd til hdwy 13; went 7l 2nd nxt; rdn to chall 2 out; led last; stayed on wl (2m 35.2s), won at Sandon 3m mdn gs in Apr beating Tango Pete (12-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Samourai One (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway after 6th, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, 28 1/2l behind Theyseekhimthere (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov.
Strackan 9-1 (11-3) In touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and headway 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 22 1/2l behind Heros De Romay (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Nov.
Take No Chances (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway into 2nd after 3 out, led narrowly last, shaken up and readily asserted run-in, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov beating Phone Home (10-13) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
The Doyen Chief (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) In touch in rear, headway 3 out, jumped right next, ridden to join winner flat, driven out, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Choccabloc (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f (2) gs in Nov.
The Breadman (IRE) Conduit gelding out of Kathy Jet.
