mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, one pace approaching last
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed flat, rallied and just held near finish
raced wide, held up, headway on outside 3 out, ridden and effort next, weakened approaching last
behind, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
raced wide and led, headed 4 out, weakened from next
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and effort next, one pace from 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 4 out, soon behind
held up and behind, headway 3 out, challenged next, ridden and every chance last, no extra flat
mid-division, smooth headway 3 out, challenged next, led and edged left last, ridden and held on near finish
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, every chance last, ridden and no extra flat
Chef de Cour has won his last three starts in novice hurdles and has to be respected making his debut in a handicap off a mark of 122 but Desert Quest was good value for his win at Taunton on Thursday and is taken to follow up under a penalty with Dont Call Me Derek rated the main danger. The selection put the disappointment of unseating his rider at Wincanton behind him when scoring at Taunton when beating the potentially well treated Direct Flight by half-a-length with the pair clear. That came after making several sloppy errors and, granted a better round, Desert Quest was value for much more than the winning margin would suggest. Keith Reveley has his string in good form so Into The Shadows has to be respected, while Briareus faces no easy task on his first start since winning at Newbury in April. Mexican Pete is lightly raced over hurdles and cannot be discounted, while Caracciola would have claims if able to reproduce his best. Of more interest may be Dont Call Me Derek, who has improved on the flat since last being seen over hurdles but Desert Quest looks well handicapped and he gets the vote.
Caracciola (GER) 11-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 8th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 14, 30l behind Town Crier (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Briareus 3-1fav (11-7) Made all, drew clear 2 out, easily, won at Newbury 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Apr beating Forthright (10-8) by 11l, 15 ran.
Calatagan (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, lost place 3 out, shaken up and ran on flat, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Flying Enterprise (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Mexican Pete 15-8fav (10-11) Held up, headway 3 out, challenged when jumped right next, ridden and every chance last, kept on until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Crathorne (10-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Oct.
Dont Call Me Derek Evensfav (10-9) Mid-division, headway to track winner 2 out, ridden and effort 2 out, not quicken flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Torkinking (10-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) hvy in Mar.
Chef de Cour (FR) 10-11fav (11-12) Mid-division, hit 2nd, headway 5th, went 2nd 3 out, led approaching next, soon clear, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft in Nov beating Canada Street (10-12) by 6l, 13 ran.
Grave Doubts 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, driven and weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 9, 24l behind Motorway (10-8) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (E) gd in Nov.
Prairie Moonlight (GER) 20-1 (10-6) Held up, headway after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, not quicken run-in, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Motorway (10-8) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (E) gd in Nov.
Desert Quest (IRE) 8-11fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, hit 7th, headway after 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, hit last, pushed out to lead flat, ran on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd beating Direct Flight (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Caraman (IRE) 100-1 (9-9) Always behind, 20th of 23, 44l behind Tamarinbleu (10-11) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Jan.
Genuine Article (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Chased leader until after 4, soon pushed along, weakened approaching 3 out, eased once beaten, 12th of 15, 23l behind Imperial Rocket (10-1) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gf in Jul.
Into The Shadows 9-4fav (10-5) Chased clear leader, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 18l behind Motorway (10-8) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (E) gd in Nov.
