held up, took keen hold, closed from 8th, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on, not able to trouble winner
led until 8th, soon switched right, led approaching 2 out, driven out
held up, took keen hold, not fluent 6th, behin from next
tracked leaders, not always fluent, weakened 4 out
tracked leader, challenged 7th, led next, headed approaching 2 out, 3rd and weakening when mistake last
CHRISTOPHER WREN, third in the Melrose Handicap as a three-year-old, won twice over hurdles last season and has the size and scope to make a chaser. He is fancied to make a winning start over the larger obstacles here getting 7lb from July's lightly-raced C&D winner Merrion Square and 14lb from Tiger O'Toole, who had to be driven right out to get the better of stablemate Sublime Talent over C&D in June but did run well in the Listed Summer Plate at Market Rasen later. Cavite Aplha is bet watched returning from a lay-off while Tough Talkin Man has been disappointing to date in his runs over fences.
Tiger O'Toole (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Behind, headway before 3 out, stayed on before last, no impression, 5th of 16, 14l behind I Have Dreamed (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Jul.
Merrion Square (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leader, led 3rd until 5th, led again 7th, clear from 2 out, ridden out, won at Newton Abbot 2m beg chs (5) gf in Jul beating Caravel (11-8) by 8l, 8 ran.
Cavite Alpha (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Last pair, weakened 8th, never on terms, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Doeslessthanme (11-7) at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
Christopher Wren (USA) 14-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, 11th of 20, well behind Valento (10-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Tough Talkin Man (IRE) 7-4 (11-6) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon no impression, went 3rd after last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Geneva Geyser (11-6) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
