led, slow jump 6th, not fluent 12th, headed 2 out, no extra flat and lost second final strides
raced in second, joined leader going easily 2 out, soon led, went clear approaching last, idled and much reduced advantage run-in, always doing enough
held up in last, outpaced before 3 out, ridden and kept on well after 2 out, went second final strides
Valentino Dancer jumped right throughout when collared on the run-in by Stepney Causeway here 11 days ago and may get picked off over this longer trip by TIME FLIES BY. The latter fell on his only previous try over fences but had a good strike-rate over hurdles and has been quite lightly raced. Shot Tower is racing from a massive 24lb out of the handicap.
Time Flies By (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up off the pace in 6th, closer at 4th, tracked leaders next, led before 2 out, clear before the last, stayed on strongly, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Rocky Man (11-6) by 2l, 10 ran.
Valentino Dancer 4-5fav (11-10) Jumped right, led and went 3 lengths ahead before 2 out, went right and reduced lead last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Stepney Causeway (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Shot Tower (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along home turn, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Mole Court (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
