held up, blundered 2nd, headway going to 4 out, hit 3 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
prominent, ridden after 8th, jumped right 2 out and weakened
raced keen, led 3rd, clear from 4th, eased flat
took keen hold tracking leaders, chased winner after 8th, lost 2nd last, no extra
led to 3rd, chased winner after, reminders after 8th, weakening when mistake 4 out
held up and behind, not fluent 7th, soon tailed off
Father Tom can pay to follow at the expense of Gipsy Cricketer, Bewleys Guest and Cheeky Lad. Father Tom failed to hit the mark when trained in Ireland up until three years ago, but found a new lease of life between the flags earlier this season. Both successes came on fast ground, and he has been campaigned under similar conditions over fences of late, showing enough to suggest that he will make the most of a decent handicap mark soon. He is no spring chicken at the age of 12, but makes most appeal in what is essentially a poor contest. Gipsy Cricketer needs to brush up his jumping, but he was going well enough when falling two out in the race won by the in-form Il Penseroso at Stratford, and has won over the course-and-distance in the past. Bewleys Guest is still a maiden but is lightly-raced over fences, while Cheeky Lad lines up as the youngster here at the age of six, and will no doubt pay his way in time. A poor affair can go to Father Tom, providing that he handles the easier ground.
Saorsie 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway to go in touch 4 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 7l behind Critical Stage (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gf.
Gipsy Cricketer 6-1 (10-0) Held up, headway approaching 9th, with winner when fell 2 out in race won by Il Penseroso (11-0) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf, 8 ran.
Father Tom (IRE) 7-4fav (10-10) Not always fluent, held up, headway after 11th, hit 12th, mistake 3 out, soon struggling, left moderate 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Rash Moment (10-10) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Cheeky Lad 5-1jt-fav (10-11) Started slowly, some headway 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on approaching last, never troubled leaders, 6th of 16, 16l behind Positano (11-3) at Worcester 2m sll hcp hdl (5) gf.
Simiola 66-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 8th of 12, well behind Wiscalitus (11-0) at Hereford 2m beg chs (4) gf in Jun.
Macgyver (NZ) 14-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 5 out, 7th of 10, 49l behind Amadeus (11-5) at Fakenham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov.
Bewleys Guest (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Chased leader, led after 9th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 14, 19l behind Magic Route (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Sir Walter (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Behind, headway and not much room approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat, 8th of 16, 24l behind Positano (11-3) at Worcester 2m sll hcp hdl (5) gf.
