chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden flat, stayed on well, led close home
veered right start, led until 6th, led next, headed 4 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, no extra last
pressed leader, led 6th, headed next, led 4 out, driven flat, headed close home
A four-year-old won this last year and Stratagem bids to follow suit but he turned in a shocker on his reappearance over hurdles at Cheltenham so has questions to answer. QUICK GRABIM won three times over hurdles and split a couple of smart novices on his fencing bow at Uttoxeter. He did nothing wrong that day and is probably more effective over this trip than Phoenix Way, though the latter should be winning over fences when tackling further.
Phoenix Way (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, challenged going well 2 out, shaken up flat, led close home, readily, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Kansas City Chief (10-9) by hd, 14 ran.
Quick Grabim (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, upsides 4 out, led next, ridden between last 2, headed last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Fusil Raffles (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Stratagem (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Midfield, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, tailed off before last, last of 6, dist behind Botox Has (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
