not fluent, ridden 14th, never on terms
mid-division, reminders 13th, moderate 3rd 2 out, weakened and blundered last
always in rear, outpaced 14th, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, driven and headed flat
led, headed approaching 2 out, rallied in the run in, no extra close home
led, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened and headed next
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, hard driven to lead flat, stayed on well
Withdrawn
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Nonrunner
It's just 11 weeks until this course and distance will stage the most eagerly-anticipated Gold Cup in 45 years, and although there is nothing of that calibre on show here, a very competitive heat can go to ANY CURRENCY, while Mr Strachan may be the one to give him most to do. The latter is one of three entered by Sue Smith, with Leac An Scail carrying little weight but very hard to win with, and Turpin Green a tricky ride who, on his best form would have a major chance here, although he has never won beyond 2m 4f. Mr Strachan was a 3m 1f Hexham winner last time, when he stayed on strongly up that stiff climb for home, auguring well for this hill. He has gone up a fair 5lbs for that win and acts with plenty of cut so he should be bang there. David Pipe's string are in decent nick, so Gentle Ranger has to be considered a player here. He stays beyond this trip, acts on the ground and has gone up just 1lb for an excellent effort in defeat last time. Soft ground and this sort of trip looks ideal for Never So Blue, though he may just be in the grip of the handicapper for now, while the same comments apply to Double Dizzy. Palypso De Creek is 4lbs lower than when running with credit in the Becher Chase at Aintree last time, giving him a squeak on ground that suits, while bet365 Gold Cup winner Hennessy makes his seasonal return in this and is 6lbs higher than when lifted home at Sandown by A P McCoy. He has won three times on his first run of the season, and acts with cut, so has to be taken very seriously from an in-form stable. Even so, we will side with Any Currency. Martin Keighley's gelding acts with cut in the ground and stays beyond three miles. He went well in defeat here last time and remains on the same mark of 132 today. A very consistent performer, he is virtually guaranteed to run his race and he looks the one that they all have to beat.
Turpin Green (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, mistake 5th, staying on one pace when blundered last and soon weakened, 4th of 11, 13l behind Shining Gale (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Knowhere (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Behind, mistake 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Poquelin (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grade 3 (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Jass 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 12th, headway 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat, never troubled leaders, 4th of 14, 9l behind Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Double Dizzy 25-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 25th, led 3 out to next, ridden and kept on same pace flat, 5th of 16, 8l behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led 12th, ridden and hit 4 out, kept narrow advantage, driven and joined last, found no extra and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Knighton Combe (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Leac An Scail (IRE) 17-2 (10-5) Tracked leader, took closer order 5th, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Open de L'Isle (10-9) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Sherwoods Folly 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 3rd until after 5th, led 6th to 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 14, 41l behind Le Beau Bai (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Never travelling in rear, reminders 6th, mistake and driven along 8th, tailed off, 9th of 19, well behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Mr Strachan (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, challenging when hit last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Huka Lodge (10-7) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Any Currency (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden 12th, hit 14th and dropped to rear, blundered 4 out, still plenty to do next, good headway on inside before 2 out, kept on well into 3rd after last, 3rd of 12, 7l behind The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 17-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slow 3rd, took closer order 7th, ridden after 2 out, one pace from last, 4th of 8, 11l behind Vic Venturi (11-12) at Aintree 3m 2f list hcp ch (1) sft in Nov.
King Harald (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) In touch when slipped and unseated rider after 15th, in a race won by Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Never So Blue (FR) 5-1 (10-9) In touch, jumped left 3rd, jumped slowly 5th, headway 14th, jumped slowly next, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 48l behind Eric's Charm (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Hennessy (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Led until 3rd, chased leaders, mistake 14th, ridden after 15th, not fluent 18th, 10 lengths 4th last, stayed on strongly, led near finish, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr beating Briery Fox (10-1) by nk, 14 ran.
