always behind, struggling from halfway
chased leader, led 2nd, ridden and challenged last, stayed on gamely flat
chased leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out
in rear, chased leaders after 5 out, weakened from next
always behind, struggling halfway
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, mistake 11th, challenging when fell heavily 3 out
close up, ridden and lost place from 12th
held up, blundered 7th, headway approaching 4 out, challenged last, no extra flat
led to 2nd, remained close up until weakened from 5 out
in touch, weakened from 10th
close up, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before last
in rear, pushed along 3rd, struggling halfway
A wide open handicap chase to solve for punters and from a shortlist of Rakalackey, OCEAN DU MOULIN, Killard Point and Laertes, the vote goes to Ocean du Moulin. Jamie Snowden's charge returned from a break at Huntingdon last time to finish fourth, his jumping leaving him down at vital stages in the contest. Formerly trained by Paul Nicholls, his rookie trainer will do well to get additional improvement from him but in handicap company he can be more competitive. Rakalackey needs a staying trip at this stage of his career and found the 2m 5f trip last time far too short. He would not want the ground to ease any further as all his winning is on ground no softer than good. Killard Point made a very pleasing return to the track at Chepstow. He has stamina in abundance but the ground could be on the quick side for him. Laertes attracted a significant amount of support on his seasonal debut but his effort did not match the confidence behind him. Cheekpieces replace blinkers today and he could be the one to give the selection, OCEAN DU MOULIN most to think about.
Leading Man (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Behind, hampered 4th, pushed along 12th, struggling from 18th, 13th of 24, well behind Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Ice Tea (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, chased leaders 4 out, held in 4th when hit last, 4th of 11, 8l behind Seymar Lad (9-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Ocean du Moulin (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Mistake 1st, in touch, chased winner 8th, mistake next, joined winner 12th until approaching 2 out, mistake last, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 12l behind Scots Dragoon (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gf in Oct.
Silver Sedge (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, outpaced approaching 5 out, no impression from 2 out, 7th of 10, 27l behind The Gangerman (10-10) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Oct.
Montevideo 25-1 (11-8) Always behind, struggling from 10th, last of 13, well behind Kandjar D'allier (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Killard Point (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden to dispute 2nd 5 out, stayed on, held by winner from 2 out, 2nd of 15, 9l behind Super Nick (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Gold Heart (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent, soon niggled along, stayed on from 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 14, 22l behind The Hollow Bottom (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Oct.
Laertes 4-1 (10-13) With leader, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 10, 29l behind The Gangerman (10-10) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Oct.
Morgan Be 20-1 (11-12) Held up, effort 5 out, weakened next, 8th of 14, 21l behind Rayshan (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov '07.
Daldini 18-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden after 5 out, weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, 35l behind Kandjar D'allier (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Super Road Train 4-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, pushed along and lost place after 4th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 10, 15l behind The Gangerman (10-10) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Oct.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 5 out, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 13, 24l behind Kandjar D'allier (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Trisons Star (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Close up, ridden when mistake 18th, soon weakened, 6th of 18, well behind Laertes (11-5) at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
Rakalackey 13-2 (11-10) Keen, in touch, mistake 3 out, ridden and one pace, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Alphabetical (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sept.
