chased winner, ridden after 4 out, no impression before 2 out, lost 2nd when not fluent last
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, blundered badly 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off
held up towards rear, not fluent 4 out, soon ridden, no impression
took keen hold, held up in touch, pushed along after 7th, mistake 4 out, weakened next
prominent, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
took keen hold, held up in rear, jumped right 2nd, headway after 6th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
made all, jumped well, clear approaching 2 out, unchallenged, easily
This is a really competitive handicap chase with three previous course and distance winners in the likes of EARTH DREAM, Huguenot and Mibleu and we side with the first of those as our selection. The Paul Nicholls trained gelding was a very convincing winner at this course recently and although higher in the weights on this occasion should make a good account of himself and challenge for the top prize. Huguenot has not won for more than twelve months since winning at this course and given some distinctly average outings of late we will oppose him. Mibleu ran well to place second in his seasonal debut and will have come on for that. On 6lbs lower here he should push our selection very close. Cortinas is worth a second look and Pilgrims Lane is looking for a hat-trick after winning twice at Stratford. Pilgrims Lane carries a penalty here and it may prove a little too much against a respectable field. Helen Wood has put in some tidy performances recently including a win at this track. She beat Cantabilly by a length and a half two races ago but a less impressive second behind The Rocking Dock when starting as favourite means we avoid her today. In this contest which should be closely fought we side with Earth Dream.
Earth Dream (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, left 2nd and slightly hampered 7th, led 3 out, kept on well from last, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Foreign King (10-13) by 3l, 5 ran.
Cortinas (GER) 3-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, clear before last, comfortably, won at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Nov beating Blast The Past (11-5) by 4l, 5 ran.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Held up in last, not fluent 5th, not much room bend after 11th, headway next, went 2nd 3 out, led going well after next, clear last, eased towards finish (no time taken), won at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May beating Crow Spinney (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Huguenot (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 4 out, hit 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Pilgrims Lane (10-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Helen Wood 3-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, challenged 8th, led before next, headed last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression, 2nd of 6, 7l behind The Rocking Dock (11-11) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Mibleu (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway 5th, went 3rd next, chased winner after 8th, jumped right from 4 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind My Condor (9-10) at Worcester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
De Luain Gorm (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Led, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 43l behind Alldunnandusted (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gf in May.
Down The Stretch 15-2 (11-12) Behind, headway 14th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2nd last, in a race won by Back Exit (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
