chased leaders, chased winner 4f out, ridden 2f out, led briefly flat, just held close home
mid-division, heavway 6f, chased winners from 7f, weakened approaching 2f out
always behind
held up, effort and headway approaching 4f out, stayed on appraoching last, no impresson
made most, ridden 3f out, headed briefly flat, all out
in touch, headway to chase leaders 6f, ridden after 5f out, soon weakened, pulled up before 4f out
with leaders, hit 1st, ridden after 5f out, weakened next
held up in rear, effort after 5f out, beaten when blundered next
with leaders and keen until hit 4th, lost place next
This is a very competitive handicap chase and the vote is given to Super Nomad, Encore Cadoudal and The Laird's Entry are also expected to go well. Mick Easterby's charge was very lightly raced last season but put in three solid efforts, including a four length third behind today's rival Encore Cadoudal. He is weighted to easily reverse that running and following a recent spin here he should be spot on for this. Encore Cadoudal was successful again at Ayr recently and has obviously improved since last season, so has to be a major threat again. The Laird's Entry ended last campaign with a smooth victory over Reivers Moon and if fit for his seasonal debut he should be involved in the finish. Polar Gunner could prove best of the rest, but Super Nomad is expected to give weight and a beating to these rivals.
Super Nomad 7-1 (11-3) Behind, hampered 3rd, headway 5 out, hampered next, ridden after 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 10, 12l behind Provocative (11-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Oct.
Encore Cadoudal (FR) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up, in touch, led after 7th, ridden and challenged approaching 3 out, kept on from last, won at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft beating Polyphon (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Day du Roy (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up, headway after 4th, 3rd when not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 28l behind Vicario (11-12) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft.
Argento 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, 5th of 13, 17l behind Jake Black (10-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft.
Powder Creek (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Always in rear pulled up at the last in race won by Dark'n Sharp (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs, 10 ran.
Polar Gunner 3-1fav (10-9) In touch, headway 2 out, effort approaching last, one pace under pressure, 4th of 11, 9l behind The Names Bond (11-5) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (F) sft.
The Laird's Entry (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Led, clear to 9th, mistake 4 out, ridden and headed narrowly 2 out, led again last, edged left and all out run-in, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Mar beating Reivers Moon (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Flake 9-2 (11-8) Tracked winner, disputed lead 6th, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression from last, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Loulou Nivernais (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft.
Hollows Mill 16-1 (10-6) Held up, in rear, ridden approaching 4 out, headway next, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Encore Cadoudal (11-6) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft.
Dabus 300-1 (11-5) Tracking leaders and keen, lost place from 6th, well behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Accordion Etoile (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs, 10 ran.
