towards rear, outpaced after 4 out, plugged on from 3 out, no impression
held up, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, ridden and headed after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up after 2 out
held up, headway after 4 out, kept on same pace
always behind, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, weakened after 8th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, weakened 9th, pulled up before 4 out
held up on outer, headway approaching 8th, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leader, weakened after 4 out
in touch, weakened approaching 6th, pulled up before 7th
towards rear, weakened from 8th
chased leaders, weakened approaching 9th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders approaching 9th, chased winner from 3 out, no impression
held up, headway 3 out, plugged on from next
held up, headway approaching 9th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, hit 2 out, mistake when tired last, all out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Trappier than a trap door in the woods surrounded by bear traps and the most tentative of votes goes to the decent chaser CHARACTER BUILDING ahead of Menchikov, Oberon Moon and How's Business. Rated in the 130's over fences, the selection makes his seasonal bow here off a mark of 120 over hurdles. Whilst this can sometimes be misleading, and along with the danger that it may be a prep run, he still looks worth chancing in an open heat having won over hurdles in the past. Archimboldo finally got his head in front last time and may be a reformed character now; he travels well in his races but this looks a much tougher contest. Balamory Dan and How's Business both signed off last season with wins, as did Oberon Moon but he looks a strong stayer so this track may not be ideal. Menchikov represents last year's winning trainer Martin Todhunter and AP is back on board, however in the words of Foreigner and M.O.P the stable are 'cold as ice' at the moment. Mr Preacher Man is holding his form well, as are Markington and Lysander down the bottom of the weights. Major Malarkey is fancied to run a better race now stepped back up in trip and it would not be a huge surprise to see him Rob the pot, however in a competitive heat it is Character Building who can score.
Menchikov (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, mistake 8th, soon driven, weakened from 3 out, 10th of 15, 28l behind Liberate (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Pagan Starprincess 11-4 (10-11) In touch, effort and every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on until no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Gray Mountain (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gd.
Orion d'Oudairies (FR) 6-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch, ridden after 7th, led last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Predictive (10-13) by 2l, 15 ran.
Tora Bora (GER) 22-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 13th of 15, well behind Liberate (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Leac An Scail (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, in touch from 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 29l behind Elusive Dream (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Risk Runner (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Chased leader, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 20l behind Rathcor (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Rightful Ruler 8-1 (11-5) Prominent to 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Cool Operator (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Sept, 8 ran.
Herecomestanley 7-2co-fav (11-9) Held up, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 10, 22l behind Archimboldo (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
How's Business 9-2 (10-7) Took keen hold early, tracked leaders, led before 4 out, ridden clear after next, stayed on well, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Swordsman (11-6) by 12l, 9 ran.
Esprit Saint (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Led to 4th, close up when fell at the 11th in race won by Himalayan Trail (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar, 10 ran.
Deep Reflection 8-1 (11-9) In touch, weakened 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Pistol Desbois (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Mar, 12 ran.
Mr Preacher Man 8-1 (11-6) Made all, clear 8th to 3 out, ridden next, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Sept beating Baileys Encore (11-2) by 1l, 11 ran.
Indy Mood 10-1 (11-4) Close up, outpaced 4 out, 7th of 9, 13l behind According To Pete (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (4) gd in May '06.
Dan Buoy (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, hampered 9th, soon hanging left and weakened, 8th of 12, 30l behind Bantry Bere (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Sept.
Spare Me 9-1 (10-10) Held up, mistake 2nd, headway 6th, driven before next, mistake 8th, weakened before next, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Hopkins (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Prominent, mistake 8th, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 10th of 15, 29l behind Schindlers Son (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in May.
Archimboldo (USA) 6-1 (10-5) Held up, smooth headway 7th, led on bit 3 out, easily, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Will The Till (11-0) by 8l, 10 ran.
Lysander (GER) 4-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, went 2nd after 9th, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Ricardo's Chance (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Balamory Dan (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Made all, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Calgary Bay (10-12) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Character Building (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 17th, ridden and went 3rd before 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 18, 19l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Dec.
Oberon Moon (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Held up behind, steady progress after 3 out, hard ridden after next, 5th jumping last, stayed on strongly, led near finish, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Apr beating Tisfreetdream (10-6) by a nk, 20 ran.
Markington 7-1 (11-4) Held up, improved on outer 3rd to track leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Terramarique (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
