took keen hold early, held up in rear, blundered 14th, not on terms when blundered badly 3 out, not recover, tailed off
led to 2nd, regained lead 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, chased winner after, mistake and pecked 2 out, lost 2nd last, stayed on flat, always held
prominent, tracked leader 4th, pushed along approaching 14th, hit 4 out, weakened and not fluent 3 out, tailed off
close up on inside, chased leading pair 3 out until ridden and weakened before next, tailed off
raced widest of all, held up in touch, steady headway on outer from 14th, challenged 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and in command before last, stayed on well, always just doing enough
led 2nd to 4th, stayed handy in 3rd, outpaced 3 out, rallied next, went 2nd last, stayed on flat, always held
Given his profile we have to take on the forecast favourite Moon Melody here and we will do so with MAJIC MOMENTS. Charlie Longsdon's six-year-old comes here after being pulled up on his latest start at Kempton a couple of weeks ago, and so has a bit to prove. Even so, he acts with cut and stays very well, and his ability to follow a poor run with a good one is well documented on his CV, so we will chance him to come back to form this time. Moon Melody has become hugely frustrating for trainer Evan Williams, who has not yet managed to elicit a win from him since he joined the yard from Michael Sowersby. He has enough ability to win a race like this and acts with cut, but you support him at your peril. Quartz Du Montceau goes well on the ground but is very moderate and hard to win with, and a better proposition may be It's A Classic, who loves the mud and stays this far. A race not for dwelling upon can be taken by Majic Moments.
Majic Moments (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Pressed leader, not fluent 9th, upsides when left in lead 12th, headed 14th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Shillingstone (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Wheres Johnny 14-1 (11-5) Close up, lost place approaching 8th, tailed off, 6th of 10, 27l behind American World (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Go Johnny Go (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, weakened quickly from 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Fortification (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Moon Melody (GER) 9-1 (11-8) Held up, blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Overton Lad (10-0) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 8 ran.
Its A Classic 7-2 (10-7) Held up, ridden 5 out, blundered 2 out, soon driven, one pace, 6th of 11, 26l behind Garleton (10-4) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Quartz Du Montceau (FR) 6-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway after 14th, not clear run on inside approaching 4 out, 4th and beaten before last, one pace, 4th of 11, 6l behind Good Harvest (11-10) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
