behind, struggling before 8th, soon beaten
in touch, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
made all, jumped left throughout, clear 4 out, mistake last, easily
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon no impression
in touch, keen hold, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out
in touch, weakened before 10th
chased leaders, ridden 9th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd 4 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened after last
held up, hit 9th, soon beaten
held up mid-division, lost place before 9th
held up, never on terms
With 13 runners lining up here, this is easily the largest field of the day at Southwell and in a competitive contest a tentative vote goes to the progressive Fort Ord who is taken to gain a deserved success and gets the vote ahead of Otantique and Broken Reed. The last mentioned is less exposed than most of these and may step up on previous form but he probably needs to and he may be best watched. Top weight Totally Scottish is capable but Keith Reveley's gelding looks a shade high in the weights at present, while Find The King is hard to recommend on recent form. Harrycone Lewis is capable but inconsistent and of more interest may be Otantique, although a 9lb rise for his latest win at Exeter looks a shade harsh. Fort Ord has been running consistently well of late though since stepping up in trip and he gets the vote off his light weight.
Totally Scottish 9-2 (10-9) Held up, brought down 5th brought down at the 5th in race won by Noir Et Vert (11-2) at Kelso 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Apr, 10 ran.
Harrycone Lewis 14-1 (10-8) Always struggling in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 13th pulled up at the 13th in race won by Alderburn (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Hi Humpfree 12-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 21l behind Abragante (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Imtihan (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Not fluent in rear, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 28l behind Snipe (9-13) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Apr.
Find The King (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led in start and dwelt, led approaching 3rd, headed 7th, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 21l behind Warpath (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Broken Reed (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Held up in touch, reminder 9th, chased winner 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 29l behind Chopneyev (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) sft in Jan.
Otantique (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar beating Kathleens Pride (11-1) by 5l, 17 ran.
Fort Ord (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Held up, headway 3 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 18, 5l behind Fleetwood Forest (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
