held up, headway 15th, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on from 3 out to go 2nd run-in
held up, mistake 7th, behind when hampered and unseated rider 14th
chased leaders until 8th, not fluent 9th, soon ridden, behind from 14th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders until 10th, ridden after 12th, behind when pulled up after 14th
held up in touch, ridden approaching 16th, hit 17th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, disputing 6th when fell 14th
chased leader, led 4 out, stayed on well, ridden out
held up, hit 5th, headway approaching 9th, led 17th until next, every chance 3 out, hit next, weakened
led until 17th, soon ridden, weakened next
The vote here goes to Orswell Crest ahead of, mainly, Redskin Raider, Alpine Slave and Dante Citizen. Staring with Dear Deal; he won off a mark of 122 last February at Kempton and is now rated 110. The downside is that recent efforts have not been inspiring. Guthrie's second to Native Ivy at Doncaster last time was a fair effort and it will be interesting to see how he fares at handicap level. Orswell Crest should have been freshened-up by a break and this course and distance winner is now just a pound above a winning mark. Redskin Raider must have been hard to assess based on two successive wins but certainly holds possibilities today. Hiers de Brouage likes it here and is only a pound above a winning mark, although he has never won at this type of trip. The lightly-raced Alpine Slave would be interesting were it not for the fact that he lacks a recent run, although money for him would be interesting. Dante Citizen has now dropped to a more-competitive mark, while Lucky Leader is another to be just a pound above a winning mark. Finally, yes you've guessed it, Father Abraham is just a pound above a winning mark in Ireland so has to be considered on that basis. Given his course and distance form, though, the vote just goes to Orswell Crest.
Dear Deal 14-1 In touch, mistake 6th, ridden after 13th, weakened after 17th, 11th of 16, 36l behind Toulouse-Lautrec at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs.
Guthrie (IRE) 12-1 Mid-division, headway 11th, went 2nd approaching 14th, ridden to challenge 4 out, one pace from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Native Ivy at Doncaster 3m beg chs (E) gd.
Orswell Crest 6-4fav Prominent, led after 12th, mistakes 13th and 14th, stayed on from 3 out, beaten when mistake last, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Even More at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Nov.
Redskin Raider (IRE) 5-6fav Made most, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (D) gf in Oct beating Albert House by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Hiers de Brouage (FR) 16-1 Held up towards rear, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Almost Broke at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Alpine Slave 11-4fav Held up in touch, reminders and lost place 10th, rallied 4 out, led 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on well, won at Stratford 3m beg chs (D) gd in Apr beating Bak To Bill by 2l, 12 ran.
Dante Citizen (IRE) 2-1fav Chased leaders, joined leader 6th, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden to lead again after last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft beating Pornic by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Father Abraham (IRE) 7-2 Led until mistake and headed 12th, lost place and mistake 13th, kept on again from 3 out, 5th of 8, 14l behind Co Optimist at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Feb.
