held up in rear, headway 10th, challenged 12th, not fluent 2 out, driven ahead towards finish
tracked leaders, jumped right 1st, led 4th until after next, led 7th until after 9th, led next, headed 15th, weakened 2 out
led, bumped 1st, headed next, dropped rear after 9th, went remote 4th 4 out
held up in rear, headway 6th, not fluent and reminder 12th, led 15th, driven after 2 out, headed towards finish
jumped right, led 2nd until 4th, led after 5th until 7th, led after 9th until next, lost place approaching 12th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up, not fluent 8th, headway 10th, lost place 13th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
GABRESELLASIE is an obvious player and we side with the JP McManus owned option ahead of The Artful Fox and Tucumari. Although at the top of the weights, the pick won last time out by a neck and may be able to see off the competition again here if putting in a similar run. His performance most recently helped the Jonjo O'Neill trained gelding lose his maiden tag at Uttoxeter and although he lacks course experience here, he has improved in his two runs so far this year and with potentially more to come we go for Gabresellasie. The main danger may be The Artful Fox who won here in June but disappointed last time at Cartmel. He is likely to put in a good run and is respected. Tucumari was fourth last time but the winner completed a hat-trick that day and was much higher rated. In this company he holds claims. This is a competitive enough race considering there are just the six runners but we side with Gabresellasie who can add to a 20% strike-rate for the jockey/trainer combination.
Gabreselassie (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, driven to chase leader after 2 out, stayed on well for pressure flat to get up last stride, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf beating Merry Terry (10-11) by nk, 9 ran.
Tucumcari (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened after 14th, blunderd 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, 41l behind Baily Storm (11-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gf in Jun.
The Artful Fox 10-1 (9-11) Chased leader after 2nd, led 6th, headed 3 out, weakened after last, tailed off, 5th of 8, 45l behind Mizen Raven (11-12) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Free Speech 9-1 (10-13) In touch until 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind Makena (11-5) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
Cute N You Know It 8-1 (9-9) Always prominent, led 8th, headed 2 out, no chance with winner when hung right and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Flying Doctor (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hld 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 16-1 (9-7) In touch, outpaced approaching 9th, brief rally approaching 3 out where went right and hampered, no impression, went 3rd when jumped right 2 out, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Ballyvesey (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
