tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 5th, hit 9th, led approaching last, kept on
led, headed approaching last, one pace
held up, ridden to chase leaders in 3rd ater 3 out, held when fell next
held up in touch, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 13th, blundered 3 out, soon pulled up
AYEMDEE is readily preferred to Cartier Opera and Kinkeel. Jonjo O'Neill has a good record with his chasers at this track and that can be enhanced by Ayemdee who should prove capable of supplementing Fontwell gains. He's only been raised by 3lbs for that narrow success which came on his seventh career start and first over fences and looks open to further improvement. He can prove too strong for Cartier Opera who has shown improved form over fences but his jumping has let him down on a couple of occasions recently. However, he did put in a clear round last time and will benefit from being stepped back up in trip and is no forlorn hope. Kinkeel has only won two of his 68 starts so isn't easy to catch right but he has won here. Champagne Star and My Matilda are open to improvement after just two starts over fences apiece but they look to have their work cut out to get the better of Ayemdee.
Ayemdee (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Not fluent 1st, tracked leading pair, mistake 3rd, not fluent 7th, pushed along approaching 3 out, good jump to challenge 2 out, driven to lead last, held on well towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) hvy beating Colonial Jim (11-10) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Cartier Opera 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, went 2nd 6th, mistake 4 out, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, jumped left and rider unbalanced last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Devils River (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
Champagne Star 20-1 (9-11) Took keen hold towards rear, headway 6th, lost place when blundered and hampered 11th, rallied briefly after 4 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 30l behind The Walnut Tree (9-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (4) gd.
Kinkeel (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, hampered 2nd, lost place 7th, behind 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Mr Ironman (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft, 9 ran.
My Matilda 8-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, soon lost place, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Take It There (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (4) sft, 7 ran.
