in touch, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway from 4 out, one pace and no impression
mid-division, blundered 1st, headway before 5 out, led before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, one pace
held up towards rear, reminders before 5 out, never dangerous
in rear, headway 4 out, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd before last, kept on to lead towards finish
held up mid-division, jumped left throughout, headway before 4 out, mistake 2 out when every chance, no extra before last
always towards rear, tailed off and soon pulled up
tracked leaders, weakened from 5 out, soon tailed off and pulled up
close up, ridden and weakened before 4 out
A tricky little handicap in which Creekside is the fly in the ointment as he's only a four-year-old and was receiving allowances when making a winning chasing debut at Towcester. The fast ground suited and he wouldn't want any more rain unlike Hazy Tom, who was a long way behind in that race after jumping poorly. He made amends in softer going at Warwick and should be in the shake-up though the best handicapped horse in the race is Freddie Brown. Unfortunately he's put in two shockers when strongly fancied after being beaten narrowly by today's rival SWIFT ARROW at Kelso and the winner has since confirmed the form in much more emphatic style. Donald McCain's charge is on an upward curve and can score again though there are plenty of dangers including Civil Unrest, who shouldn't be inconvenienced by dropping back in trip after scoring over 2m4f here.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, some headway next, struggling 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 20, well behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Houston Dynimo (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Led, mistake when headed 2 out, no extra approaching last, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Stormy Weather (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Hazy Tom (IRE) 15-8 (11-1) Made all, ridden after last, kept on, won at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) sft in Nov beating Cantlow (11-1) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Kealigolane (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Led, mistake 4th, headed after 6th, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Tap Night (11-12) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Red Tanber (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Raced wide, chased leaders, hit 4th, weakened 9th, behind and pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Locked Inthepocket (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Swift Arrow (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway on outside 7th, driven to lead between last 2, 6 lengths clear last, ridden out flat, comfortably, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Soul Magic (10-0) by 18l, 9 ran.
Creekside 13-2 (10-7) Mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, challenged between last 2, ridden and stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Towcester 2m beg chs (4) gf in Oct beating Thanks For Coming (11-3) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Glencree (IRE) 6-4fav (11-3) Tracked leader, hit 1st, not fluent 6th, outpaced after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on to chase winner flat, no impression, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Humbie (10-6) at Haydock 2m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar '11.
Civil Unrest (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, kept on, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov beating William Money (11-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Freddie Brown 9-4fav (11-4) Soon led, driven and edged right after 2 out, headed between last, 6 lengths down in 2nd and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 25l behind Swift Arrow (11-6) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
