not fluent throughout, took keen hold, blundered 4 out, headway to chase winner 3 out, upsides 2 out, ridden and every chance after last, upsides when no room last 100 yards, soon eased
made all and jumped left, clear from 6th, ridden and pressed 2 out, upsides when hung right last 100 yards and squeezed out rival, kept on
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, weakened from 3 out, blundered 2 out
tracked winner until 3 out, soon weakened
After 32 attempts, Watch The Wind is still a maiden and probably lacks a bit scope now at the age of 10. He is readily passed over here while it would take a terrific performance by Coffee Tea Or Me to beat two previous chase winners after almost two years on the sidelines. Pure Faith was probably trying to give weight to a decent sort in Black Jack Blues at Ffos Las last time and should be winning again soon but could find NOW THIS IS IT too hot to handle here. A winner over hurdles here in 2009, Stuart Crawford's gelding may not have beaten much on his chase debut at Cartmel but jumped soundly and is also certainly capable of holding his own in much better company - he gets the vote.
Now This Is It (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Held up in 5th, hit 9th, headway when hit 2 out, led over 1f out, driven and stayed on well to go clear final furlong, won at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chase (4) gd in May beating Be Definite (11-0) by 7l, 6 ran.
Pure Faith (IRE) 7-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, challenged next, mistake next, soon ridden, jumped left and stayed on well enough from 3 out, always held by winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Black Jack Blues (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nov chs (4) gf.
Coffee Tea Or Me 7-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, closed into 2nd 2 out, dropped to 3rd and kept on same pace under pressure run-in, 3rd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Let Yourself Go (11-9) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f beg chs in Aug '09.
Watch The Wind 33-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders on outside, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 34l behind Authentic Act (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
