held up in touch in 4th, not fluent 4 out, chased leading pair approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd after 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear in 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 6th to chase leaders, chased leader approaching 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on, held on well
led, ridden and headed last, kept on run-in, held towards finish
held up towards rear and keen, mistake 1st, weakened from 7th
tracked leader until after 5th, lost place approaching 7th
held up towards rear, fell 6th
held up in rear, hit 6th, weakened from 9th, hit 3 out
The field can quickly be whittled down to five realistic contenders but separating them from thereon in is less straightforwards. Native Gallery showed form under testing conditions in points in Ireland and may find that this test serves him better than the conditions on debut at Southwell. Jetnova has been a shade disappointing thus far but drops in trip and may well prove capable of better. Health Is Wealth was readily brushed aside at Wincanton but the winner is probably above average and he's entitled to come on for the outing. Paint The Clouds showed a decent level of form in defeat prior to getting off the mark but he's unproven on a testing surface so preference is for FRONTIER SPIRIT who lost no caste in defeat to a promising sort at Fakenham and should appreciate the return to racing on soft ground.
Frontier Spirit (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, hit 5th, led after 3 out, joined next, ridden and headed narrowly last, driven and kept on gamely, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Carribs Leap (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Paint The Clouds 4-6fav (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, ridden out, always holding on, won at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Beside The Fire (11-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Health Is Wealth (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, led until hit 3 out and headed, soon no chance with winner, tired and wandered before next, tailed off, 2nd of 3, well behind That'll Do (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Jetnova (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Mid-division, jumped left 4th, headway after 8th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 26l behind Rif (10-12) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Native Gallery (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 8th, mistake and lost footing 2 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 14l behind Front Of House (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Venetian Lad 8-1 (11-4) In rear, headway halfway, pushed along and plugged on one pace final 3f, 6th of 14, 24l behind Camden (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gs.
Downe Payment (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Always behind, ridden and struggling in rear after 6th, tailed off, 8th of 12, 43l behind Kauto The Roc (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 4f 4yo nov stks (4) gs.
Noir Noir 40-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, jumped left throughout, lost place approaching 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Kaituna (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gd.
Twin Bud 33-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, hampered 1st, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on before last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Kaituna (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gd.
