tracked leaders, pecked slightly 5th, ridden and outpaced from 7th, blundered and lost touch 4 out, tailed off
tracked winner until after 2nd, ridden approaching 6th, outpaced and no impression on leaders from next
made all, clear 2nd until after 5th, went left last, ridden out
chased winner after 2nd, not fluent 8th, ridden after not being fluent 2 out, unable to quicken, no impression
Falcon Island was popular with punters ahead of his chasing debut in a Chepstow handicap but weakened quickly from the third last. He should show the benefit of that experience here but we're taking him on with HES OUR LAD, who is a strong chasing type that's been in good form over hurdles in recent months and will have had plenty of schooling over the larger obstacles. Cantabilly will have needed a spin over hurdles at Chepstow but needs to improve on previous runs over fences if he's to get off the mark here.
Apache Dawn 40-1 (10-8) Chased clear leader after 2nd until before 6th, soon struggling, lost modest 3rd when mistake last, last of 4, 42l behind Schumpters Lad (11-1) at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gf.
Cantabilly (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside approaching 7th, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Drumbaloo (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Falcon Island 9-2 (11-5) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 5th, no impression 4 out, mistake 3 out, 9th of 12, 35l behind Educated Evans (10-11) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct.
Hes Our Lad (IRE) 15-8 (11-4) Held up, went 4th when hit 3 out, led and jinked right approaching 2 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Johns Spirit (10-12) at Stratford 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gd in Oct.
