led until not fluent 4th, reminder after 6th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, led 4 out, headed 2 out, switched right after last, stayed on, held by winner
chased leaders, pushed along 7th, every chance when bad mistake 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, headed before last, weakened flat, lost 3rd near finish
with leader, not fluent 1st, led 4th, headed 8th, every chance 4 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, stayed on well
prominent, led after 8th until 4 out, not fluent and no impression 3 out, stayed on well flat to grab 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair
always behind
KIKOS won off a similar mark in April and he performs well when fresh. The jockey booking is certainly notable and we will take the hint that he is ready to win again. Mibleu won here in June but has too high a Chase mark at the moment to be interesting. There are plenty of dangers to our selection though. Blast The Past won well at Stratford but may not have beaten too much and last time out winner Novikov has done well in Novice Chase company but may find this opposition more difficult to beat. Cullahill has a great record here and has really taken to chasing so is a big threat whilst Film Festival has to find a bit more to challenge.
Cullahill (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Cold Mountain (10-11) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jul.
Nikola (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 13, 18l behind Warpath (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Novikov 15-2 (11-3) Held up, went 3rd after 6th, chased leader 9th, challenged 3 out, led next, jumped left last, ridden out, won at Southwell 2m nov chs (4) gd in Aug beating Pure Faith (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mibleu (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Settled in mid-division, mistake 4th, headway 9th, soon chasing leaders, weakened before 3out, 6th of 9, 13l behind West With The Wind (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
Kikos (FR) 14-1 (10-9) Tracked leader until 2nd, prominent, not fluent 5th (water), ridden 3 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 9, 14l behind Passato (10-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Jul.
Oneway (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, headway from 2 out, kept on well from next, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Robo (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Dec.
Film Festival (USA) 2-1fav (11-1) Took keen hold, led, not fluent 2nd, clear next, not fluent last, soon ridden, caught last strides, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Calculaite (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Blast The Past 11-2 (11-3) Held up in rear, took keen hold, good headway approaching 2 out, led when left well clear last, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Bushwacker (11-9) by 17l, 7 ran.
