tracked leaders, headway when mistake 8th, led 9th, made rest, easily
made most to 6th, lost touch from 5 out
with leader, led 6th to 9th, chased winner after, no impression from 3 out
held up, fell 3rd
Paul Nicholls has won two of the four renewals and sends SOUTHFIELD VIC with leading claims. The four-times hurdles winner made a ponderous start over fences with a second at Fakenham but was rated higher over timber than today's main rivals. Souriyan wasn’t beaten far on his chasing bow at Carlisle and is just preferred to last month's Southwell third King's Odyssey but Pursuitofhappiness will do well to figure.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-4) Tracked leaders, went narrow 2nd 3 out, ridden and one pace before last, well held in clear 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Capard King (11-8) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Pursuitofhappiness (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up off the pace in 5th, no chance from 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up approaching 4 out, at Exeter 2m 3f (2) hvy in Dec.
Southfield Vic (IRE) 1-3fav (11-2) Led, headed 4th, tracked leader, chased winner 10th, pushed along and every chance 2 out, ridden approaching next, no impression, 2nd of 3, 1 1/4l behind Katkeau (11-2) at Fakenham 3m (3) gs in Nov.
Souriyan (FR) 3-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, every chance 2 out, chased winner from last, kept on, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Shimla Dawn (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.