held up towards rear and keen, went 3rd before 4th, went 2nd at 6th, left in lead 9th, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place before 7th, soon tailed off and pulled up
led, not fluent 2nd, soon clear, blundered and unseated 9th
held up mid-division, left 2nd from 9th, led before 2 out, headed before last, kept on
tracked leader, outpaced before 4 out, headway 2 out, ridden to lead before and blundered last, kept on
in rear, reminders before 8th, soon struggling
held up in rear, blundered 3rd, not fluent 6th, weakened before 8th, tailed off and pulled up
With the exception of Watergate, here is a tightly-knit contest and a rather difficult and unappealing punting conundrum. However, we'll row in with CHASERS CHANCE despite a really below par effort at Wincanton nine days ago when seeking a three-timer. It's hard to believe that his astute handler would send him back to the track so quickly unless he was perfectly happy with his charge and he's well worth another chance here. Qoubilai was far from disgraced behind the in-form Royale's Charter at Taunton on his seasonal reappearance and should be spot-on now. He does step up in trip but that should pose no problem as he has a 3m point-to-point win to his name. He 's a big danger to the selection. Ray Diamond, Lord Singer and Nozic all have course wins under their belt and are preferred in that order of the remainder.
Lord Singer (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, challenged 3 out, soon every chance, lost 2nd 2 out, rallied to 2nd flat, hung left and stayed on well in closing stages, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Cranky Corner (11-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Ray Diamond 10-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, ridden 5 out, weakened next, 6th of 9, 44l behind Sir Du Bearn (11-11) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Qoubilai (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Led until hit 4 out and ridden, soon dropped to 3rd, no chance with leading pair when blundered and lost 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 15l behind Royale's Charter (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Nozic (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Behind, mistake 3rd, headway to chase leaders 8th, driven in modest 4th before 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 6l behind Cranky Corner (11-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Camden (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Led to 4th, remained close up, led again 5 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 29l behind Safran De Cotte (11-3) at Stratford 2m 7f Beginners Chase (0-125) (4yo+) (3) sft.
Chasers Chance (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, pecked next, ridden after 10th, weakened before 5 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 47l behind Fairy Rath (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Watergate (IRE) 7-2 (10-4) Blundered 1st, chased leaders, slightly lost place 4 out, no extra in 5th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Cranky Corner (11-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft, 8 ran.
