prominent, ridden 4 out, beaten after 3 out, switched left approaching 2 out, edged right between last 2, stayed on to take 3rd flat
held up in rear, pulled hard, headway 5th, not fluent next, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression
chased leaders, ridden 7th, beaten 3 out
jumped right, chased winner, ridden and still pressing 3 out, beaten and relegated to 3rd approaching 2 out, one pace
in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 8th, 7th when mistake 3 out, unseated rider shorty after
jumped well, made all, went clear with one rival 8th, ridden clear approaching last
chased leaders, lost place 4th, in rear after
chased leaders, weakened after 9th
held up in rear, took keen hold, no chance after 8th
The handicapper has taken a dim view of Incorporation's Uttoxeter success which may enable Arctic Spirit to get the better of both him and Red Jester. Robin Dickin's veteran saves his best for this track and has achieved four of his seven career victories here. He is a few pounds higher than when last winning and did finish four lengths behind Red Jester here last time but the latter's penalty gives the selection every chance of reversing the form. Red Jester hadn't shown all that much prior to that win and there has to be a slight concern about his ability to reproduce that effort and is probably worth taking on at a short price. Incorporation has been all or nothing of late and an 8lb rise for an admittedly comfy win at Uttoxeter may be enough to anchor him on a track as stiff as this. There are no such concerns with regard to Arctic Spirit and he's the call.
Incorporation 11-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, led before 3 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs beating Pret A Thou (11-4) by 6l, 9 ran.
Albarino (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up, ridden to challenge for 3rd after 3 out, weakened approaching final furlong, 4th of 5, 24l behind Consigliere (11-11) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Absolutelythebest (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Prominent, not fluent 4 out, soon driven, weakening when mistake last, 5th of 16, 10l behind Red Jester (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Arctic Spirit 11-2fav (11-6) Always prominent, led approaching 3 out, headed last, one pace flat, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Red Jester (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Sarahs Gift (IRE) 4-1co-fav (9-7) Held up, stayed on from 4 out, never nearer, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Orrezzo (11-7) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Red Jester 12-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, ridden after 3 out, switched left between last 2, led last, just held on, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Croft (10-4) by a nk, 16 ran.
Lord Gunnerslake (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, hampered after 8th, weakened 11th, 9th of 15, 45l behind Apocalozzo (10-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs (5) gf.
Nautic (FR) 66-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place 11th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Ocean du Moulin (10-12) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gf, 8 ran.
Colemanstown 100-1 (9-11) Always towards rear and pulled up at the last in race won by Apocalozzo (10-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs (5) gf, 15 ran.
