held up in touch, not fluent 6th, pushed along and outpaced before 9th, soon lost touch, tailed and pulled up after 10th
took keen hold early, led, not much room on inside bend and headed before 2 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last 2
not fluent in rear, struggling when mistake 10th, mistake next, tailed off
mostly tracked leader, led before 2 out, ridden clear between last 2, kept on strongly
tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd 9th, stayed on to 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
mostly tracked leading pair, lost 3rd 9th, soon weakened, no chance when mistake 4 out, tailed off
held up in touch, pushed along in 4th before 10th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
Upton Mead loves it round here and it would be no surprise to see this triple course winner add to his tally at the Sussex venue in receipt of weight all round. He commands great respect, as does Plum Pudding. The latter hasn't been in the winner's circle since the last day of 2011 but arrives in really good form having been only narrowly denied the last twice. Expect this prominent racer to go well once again but BEFOREALL may be too progressive for both of them. Oliver Sherwood's gelding is only five but has already had his attentions turned to the larger obstacles, just failing to get up in the dying yards on his fencing debut at Towcester. He is sure to benefit greatly from that first experience of fences and is taken to go one better now over a suitably longer trip.
Nozic (FR) 25-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 4th, struggling 8th, behind next, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Kapga De Cerisy (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft, 9 ran.
Carpincho (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 3rd, jumped left and not fluent 6th, not fluent 10th, no extra 2 out, 6th of 7, 22l behind Mohi Rahrere (11-0) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Reblis (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, lost place before 10th, struggling from 13th, soon pulled up, in a race won by The Clyda Rover (10-9) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr, 9 ran.
Beforeall (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led until 4th, stayed prominent, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and one pace before last, left 2nd last, stayed on flat, closing on winner close home, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Arkaim (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Venetian Lad 9-2 (11-6) In touch, jumped slow 9th, went poor 3rd before 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Kind Of Easy (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
Plum Pudding (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Led, mistake 8th, headed 10th, led again 3 out, challenged from 2 out, headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Midnight Charmer (10-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.
Upton Mead (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, left 2nd at 8th, led 10th to next, in touch, ridden and no impression in 3rd from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Plein Pouvoir (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
