pressed leader, left in lead 4th, soon headed, lost place approaching 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
mid-division, hampered and unseated rider 6th
led until mistake and unseated rider 4th
held up, not fluent 1st, mistake and unseated rider 4th
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 4 out, hit 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway 8th, weakened 2 out, tailed off
prominent, slightly hampered 2nd, led after 4th, not fluent 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, headway 3 out, not clear run and switched right after 2 out, challenged last, not much room flat, led towards finish
in touch, hampered 4th, went 2nd 8th, led approaching 2 out, driven and edged right flat, headed towards finish
The penultimate race on the card is a decent chasing event and hopefully KIKOS can hold off Prince De Marais and Miss Sarenne. The selection was a lucky winner of his latest start when his only danger departed at the last fence. The horse is questions, Master Nimbus, had a decent chase event at Aintree sown up before coming down at the last. That is a technical boost of form in our eyes and we feel Kikos may be able to go in again as he should now strip fitter after his comeback run. Prince De Marais has been in very good form of late winning two of his three starts. He was second in a decent event on his latest start and will go close today. Miss Sarenne will probably start favourite given connections but it remains to be seen how her jumping will hold up in this bigger field. Others to note are Huguenot and Norborne Bandit but Kikos gets our vote.
Some Touch (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, chased leader 7th until 9th, mistake next, hit 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lease Lend (11-10) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Merchant Red (USA) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, chased winner 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened into 4th when blundered 2 out, 5th of 7, 39l behind Busy Isit (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Kikos (FR) 11-8fav (11-4) Made all, blundered 1st, not fluent 4 out, challenged last, soon left clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr beating Norborne Bandit (10-4) by 9l, 3 ran.
Miss Sarenne (FR) 5-2 (10-5) Held up in 3rd, took keen hold, nipped through on inside to lead after 4 out, ridden approaching last, soon strongly pressed, stayed on, won at Aintree 2m nov chs (4) gd beating West With The Wind (11-5) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Huguenot (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leading pair, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression with winner, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Tyup Pompey (9-11) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Prince Des Marais (FR) 7-1 (10-12) In touch, challenged after 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Warpath (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Kirby's Vic (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) In touch, reminders and lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out, 13th of 17, well behind Sound Stage (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, soon detatched, took closer order 7th, headway to chase leaders 3 out, mistake next, stayed on under pressure flat, never reached winner, 2nd of 5, nk behind Take A Mile (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 11-4 (10-4) Tracked leaders in rear and keen, blundered 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, in 3rd and held when left 2nd last, 2nd of 3, 9l behind Kikos (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
