chased leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, staying on same pace when mistake last
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 9th, mistake next, outpaced 5 out, rallying when fell next
led until 2nd, remained prominent, led again before 4 out, drew clear 2 out, ran on well
in rear when fell 5th
chased leaders, outpaced before 5 out, rallied 4 out, soon chasing winner, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, slow next, took closer order 9th, chased leaders 11th, weakened 3 out
The four-year-old Something Brewing, just beaten over hurdles at Kelso last month, could be interesting if taking to fences but we’ll give a final chance to BORN FOR WAR, a beaten favourite in his last three starts but more than capable of recording a first success dropping back in distance today. Buckled has won twice here over hurdles but has yet to show much aptitude for chasing whereas Asum has been placed the last twice at Ayr. None of the remaining trio can be ignored in what looks a tight handicap.
Asum 6-1 (11-1) Led, strongly challenged after 3 out, headed before last, rallied closing stages, stayed on well, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Trongate (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Elmono (FR) 15-8fav (11-12) Mid-division, lost place and behind 4 out, headway under pressure after 2 out, went 3rd between last 2, no chance with clear pair, 3rd of 7, 12 1/2l behind The Paddy Pie (11-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Garde Forestier (FR) 125-1 (11-2) Always in rear, struggling 9th, soon beaten, 8th of 13, dist behind Vinndication (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov.
Born For War (IRE) 5-6fav (11-1) In touch, ridden and in 3rd from last, kept same pace, 4th of 6, 3l behind Island Heights (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Something Brewing (FR) 17-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, every chance after last, kept on under pressure closing stages, 2nd of 5, nk behind One Night In Milan (11-5) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Buckled 5-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, headway on outside 3 out, soon led, ridden and headed before last, no extra, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Jack Devine (11-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Red Ochre 13-2 (10-9) Tended to jump right, held up in touch in rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on to take modest 2nd final strides, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Charmant (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
