tracked leaders, shaken up normal 3 out, went 2nd last bend, closed bypassing omitted last, stayed on, just held
chased leader, challenged normal 4 out, led next, clear last bend, reduced lead bypassing omitted last, held on
led, clear 4th until 6th, headed normal 3 out, no impression off last bend
held up in mid-division, not fluent 4th, effort on outside after 9th, lost place normal 3 out, well beaten next
mid-division, outpaced normal 4 out, well beaten after
chased leaders, ridden normal 2 out, one pace before last bend
held up in rear, headway approaching omitted last, stayed on, went 3rd towards finish
held up in rear, effort normal 4 out, 3rd before omitted last, no impression, lost 2 places close home
Cobra De Mai clearly found 3m too far last month at Chepstow. He’ll be more at home over this trip and was generally progressive last season, though was pulled up on his only previous run here in a race won by the re-opposing Dream Bolt. Eastlake is beginning to look a light of former days while Atlantic Storm changed stables after winning a seller over hurdles last time but did win over fences at Southwell in the summer. Deauville Dancer has become disappointing and Activial is best watched back over fences but COMANCHE CHIEFTAIN is back on his favourite course and may take all the beating again. He was behind Cobra De Mai at Uttoxeter in September but has won four of his five races around here and didn’t stay 3m at Fakenham latest.
Activial (FR) 33-1 (11-13) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 7, 5 1/4l behind Black Sam Bella (11-2) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in May.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, well beaten before 5 out, 9th of 12, 32 1/4l behind The Young Master (10-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Comanche Chieftain (CAN) 5-1 (11-12) Close up in 3rd, tracked winner 4th, not fluent 14th, outpaced by winner soon after 2 out, blundered last, 2nd of 3, 18l behind Rocky's Treasure (11-8) at Fakenham 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Markov (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Well in rear, never on terms, 7th of 11, dist behind Silverhow (10-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Eastlake (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, quick move to track leaders 5th, weakened before 3 out, where pecked, 4th of 8, 35l behind Imperial Presence (10-11) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in May.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, driven and outpaced after 4 out, ridden after next, never reached leaders, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Bagad Bihoue (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Dream Bolt (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Held up last, jumped big 1st, not fluent and outpaced 8th, no danger after, last of 4, 16 1/4l behind Oliver's Hill (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd before next, led approaching last, soon clear, won at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Oct beating Excellent Team (11-6) by 7l, 6 ran.