in touch until gradually faded from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch, headway to press winner 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led on bit soon after 3 out, went right next, ridden headed and hit last, no extra
held up behind, hit 7th, steaday headway from next, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led last, stayed on, pushed out
with leader, led 7th until after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
led until 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out
ridden and headway to go 4th after 3 out, no further impression from next
He's A Leader gets the vote here ahead of, possibly, Apollo Theatre and Teorban. He's A Leader comes here on a roll, having won his last three races last term. Ok, he has been absent for nearly a year, but that is rarely an issue with trainer Martin Pipe, and he looks set to go well. A course and distance winner, Bak To Bill is eight pounds higher than for his most-recent success and, much as he can go well fresh, he looks weighted up to his best. French winner Turkama hasn't impressed here yet, while Apollo Theatre gave the impression towards the end of last season that he needs some help from the handicapper. Arm And A Leg has been beaten from his revised mark since his Bangor win, which has to be borne in mind, while dual novice winner Middleham Park is another that has it to prove from his current mark. Burren Moonshine has yet to recapture his Irish form of 2004, while, much as he won his novice event here, Gordon Highlander would be hard to fancy overall, but Teorban, raised five pounds for a second to the interesting Astyanax last time, could well get into things. Overall, though, He's A Leader gets a solid call.
Bak To Bill 11-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, left in lead after 11th, headed 14th, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 4th of 8, 9l behind Kjetil (10-7) at Ludlow 3m nov chs (D) gs in Mar.
Turkama (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, held up, no chance when hit 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by By Degree (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy, 11 ran.
Apollo Theatre 11-2 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 10l behind Commercial Flyer (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Apr.
Arm And A Leg (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Chased leader in clear 2nd until fell at the 4th in race won by Yourman (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) frm in Oct, 7 ran.
Middleham Park (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Jumped right, in touch, led 7th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 25l behind Schapiro (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gf in Jun.
He's A Leader (IRE) 8-13fav (11-10) Held up, steady headway before 3 out, tracked leading pair 2 out, in command last, ran on under pressure, won at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft beating Front Rank (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Burren Moonshine (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Prominent, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Tomina (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd.
Gordon Highlander 9-2 (11-4) In touch, ridden to chase leaders from 4 out, one pace, 5th of 10, 15l behind Emmasflora (10-5) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Teorban (POL) 9-1 (11-12) Held up rear, headway 8th, chased winner 3 out, hit last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Astyanax (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Oct.
