led to 2nd, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
close up, headway to track leader 6th, led and went left approaching 2 out, stayed on well
held up, headway approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, kept on to take 3rd flat
took keen hold, held up in rear, ridden and struggling 6th
held up in rear, mistake 5th, always behind
chased leaders until weakened 6th
took keen hold, held up, headway to track leading pair 3 out, chased winner last, kept on flat
raced on inside, led 2nd to 4th, lost place soon after next
in touch, headway 6th, chased leading pair when blundered and weakened 3 out
keen hold, chased leaders until weakened approaching 6th
Caribou was such an easy winner last time that he has to be supported again, with Pace Shot, Take A Mile and Sole Agent all likely to give him something to think about. Although Caribou was not foot-perfect at Leicester, there was no doubting his authority as he was eased down on the run-in to beat Cava Bien a lot more easily than the margin of a length suggests. He can be supported to follow up against some in-form rivals such as Pace Shot who kept on well behind Twist Magic at Wincanton. Take A Mile was expected at Fakenham and duly obliged, but has a bit more on his plate now, while Sole Agent is perhaps best watched on his hurdles debut. Willy The Slip falls into the same category, and Dance Hall Diva is going the right way but is another that will need to raise her game to get the better of Caribou who has enough scope to pay to follow.
Caribou (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, ridden when not fluent last, eased towards finish, won at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) sft beating Cava Bien (10-12) by 1l, 14 ran.
Pace Shot (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, ridden, headway after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, hit last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 9l behind Twist Magic (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs.
Take A Mile (IRE) 4-5fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, led last, ran on well, won at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (E) gd beating Best Game (10-12) by 9l, 14 ran.
Camerons Future (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Slowly away, always towards rear, 9th of 13, 22l behind Sword of Damascus (10-7) at Exeter 1m 5f nhf (H) gs in Oct.
Crystal Ka (FR) 100-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, in touch until weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, 44l behind Warningcamp (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft.
Ghaill Force 22-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 14, 21l behind Take A Mile (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Isle de Maurice 25-1 (10-12) Took keen hold early, in touch, mistake 6th, weakened before next, 6th of 11, 21l behind Tora Bora (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo nov hdl (E) sft.
Slew Charm (FR) 18-1 (9-1) Soon behind, 11th of 12, 31l behind Easy Laughter (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
Sole Agent (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 4th and 6th, effort to dispute 2nd well before last, soon weakened, 3rd of 13, 15l behind Sasso (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Willy The Slip 9-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway from over 4f out, switched right 1f out, stayed on strongly close home, 3rd of 13, 15l behind Milan Deux Mille (10-12) at Exeter 1m 5f nhf (H) sft in Dec.
Dance Hall Diva 12-1 (9-12) Prominent in chasing group, kept on one pace from 3 out, 2nd of 14, 18l behind Josear (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Brendan's Surprise 100-1 (10-5) In touch, mistake 3rd, weakened under pressure before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Turko (11-4) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
Rathcannon Beauty 66-1 (10-0) Not fluent, behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Spidam (11-4) at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
