held up in rear, steady headway from 9th, effort 3 out, chased winner before 2 out to before last, no impression and lost 3rd run-in
not fluent, blundered 6th, always behind
in touch, stayed on after 3 out, kept on under pressure to take 3rd run-in
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, weakened before 4 out
in touch, lost place 11th, soon well behind
behind, headway to mid-division 4 out, no impression after next
never going well in rear, mistake and tailed off 10th, pulled up before 4 out
behind, reminders 7th, never going well and no chance after
held up in rear, effort and just in touch on outside when blundered 3 out, not recover and eased after
chased leaders, went 2nd and blundered 10th, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened and blundered last
jumped well, made all, stayed on strongly after 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway from 4 out, stayed on under pressure to chase winner before last, kept on under pressure run-in
chased leader to 10th, gradually lost place
held up, headway and close up from 7th, chased leaders to 4 out, 4th and weakening when blundered last
mid-division, weakened and well behind 4 out
mid-division when not much room on inside 3rd, pushed along and no impression on leaders before 3 out, stayed on after next, never dangerous
This could hardly be more a competitive handicap but, as Martin Pipe has made a habit of making a mockery of those exact assumptions in races like this, Iznogoud, who is very much his stable's first string, is selected ahead of Redemption, Le Duc and Kandjar D'Allier, who are all very hard to split on the revised terms after their encounter here on New Year's day. The last mentioned has obviously thrived since switching to the Alan King yard and comes here with solid each-way claims. He is much better off at the weights with his old rivals today. However, he has never quite managed to get home in his four previous visits to Prestbury Park and could again be found out by the hill. By way of contrast, Redemption reserves his best efforts for this course and it will take a good one to lower his colours if he and Tony McCoy manage to keep the partnership intact. The champion jockey's mount is 7lb better off with Le Duc this afternoon and, now that he is back with Nigel Twiston-Davies, it can be assured that the gelding will be primed to do himself justice. Likewise Le Duc is in very capable hands and he will be a live danger if he turns up in the right frame of mind today. However, he has struggled off this sort of mark in the past and despite him holding a touch of class he is also prone to the odd stinker. He may have done his winning for the time being and is reluctantly passed over in favour of Iznogoud this afternoon. The long absence should help to build the price on the selection, who has not been seen since failing to stay in the Sandown's end of season highlight last April. However, nobody gets them to the track in better condition than Pipe and his charge represents terrific each-way value in this company. The drop in trip will see Iznogoud in a better light this afternoon and, as some of his rivals have already endured hard races this term, this looks the prime-time to give Iznogoud another chance to come good at a likely price.
