in touch, ridden after 9th, soon eased and pulled up
held up, headway 9th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, no extra flat
prominent, outpaced after 9th, rallied and every chance last, no extra flat
always towards rear
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd close home
always behind
in touch, led approaching 3 out, ridden when stumbled 2 out, ran on
mid-division, ridden after 8th, soon weakened
Festive Chimes gets the call over Slalom, with Rash Moment and Polyarnoe Bay best of the rest. Festive Chimes was successful over the course and distance earlier in the season, and since then has been there or thereabouts without managing to follow up. She was sent off as favourite here 10 days ago but found things tough in that handicap won by Xellance, finishing fourth in the end. Back in novice company now though, she can bounce back to beat her main rival Slalom. The latter was third at Cartmel last time after blundering at the last flight. He would not have won though, but the drop back in trip will be in his favour so he should go close again. Of the rest, Rash Moment needs to recapture last season's form to figure, while Polyarnoe Bay emerges form the point-to-point circuit and could be interesting in time, but overall Festive Chimes makes the most appeal.
Rash Moment (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Jumped badly right, always behind, tailed off from 9th, 5th of 9, well behind Splash Out Again (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (E) gf in Aug.
Slalom (IRE) 5-2fav (10-11) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, in 3rd when blundered last, one pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Michaels Dream (10-11) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Aug.
Hard N Sharp 33-1 (10-12) Always in rear, well behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Screenplay (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (E) gf, 8 ran.
Munny Hill 100-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, lost place and not fluent 4th, tailed off after next, 6th of 9, well behind Power Unit (11-6) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (D) gf in Jun '04.
Paradise Garden (USA) 8-1 (10-12) Held up until headway after 3rd, ridden and weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Young Lorcan (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in Sept '01, 10 ran.
Smileafact 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until after 7th, 7th of 10, 46l behind Romany Prince (11-8) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (C) gf in Aug.
Festive Chimes (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway 9th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 20l behind Xellance (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gf.
Polyarnoe Bay 3-1 (11-2) 2nd of 7, hd behind Shirostran (12-0) at Whitwell On Hill 3m ptp gd in Apr.
