always towards rear
mid-division, headway when mistake 6th, joined leader next, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened next
jumped left, raced keenly, led until hit 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, tracked leaders, hit 1st, effort after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leader, led after 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden to press winner 2 out, hit last, kept on same pace
in touch, tracked leaders 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway 7th, stumbled approaching 2 out, soon led, edged left flat, ridden out
tracked leader, led 6th, soon headed, disputing close 3rd when blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out
Unlikely to be many Cheltenham clues here and we take a chance with OKOUM against Phoenix Des Mottes and Postmaster. Brendan Powell's six-year-old stayed middle distances in France and related to a number of winning chasers and hurdlers, the trip won't be the thing that gets him beat. Phoenix Des Mottes won a maiden hurdle at Newton Abbot on British debut. He did so with a few mistakes and he can ill afford to reproduce them on this occasion. Postmaster was a modest sort on the flat for Roger Ingram. Claimed out of that yard, he was not disgraced on a step into handicap company. Muraco was outpaced at Plumpton before plugging on at the finish. This step up in trip might make a difference. Miss Carroll was a substantial finger burner for punters in a Market Rasen bumper in June. She probably has ability though needs to learn how to settle before we see the best of her. Sandy Denny is the type who might make a National Hunt broodmare so connections will be keen to get a win into her ahead of a future career elsewhere. Drizzi was given a stinker of a ride from Simon Walker at Wolverhampton on his final outing on the level. That didn't stop Jim Best submitting a claim and he is worth a watch in the market this afternoon. Okoum is reluctantly put up in a race unlikely to attract many column inches in the newspapers.
Drizzi (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, not clear run over 5f out, headway over 4f out, edged left 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Dandygrey Russett (10-2) at W'hampton 1m 4f amt stk (6) pol in Jun (Flat).
Man of The Moment 7-1 (12-0) Nvr nr ldrs, 4th of 17, 34l behind Range Rover (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp sft in Apr.
Muraco 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden after 6th, driven and struggling 3 out, 5th of 10, 7l behind Wyeth (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Okoum (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 12, hd behind Oh Lut'un (10-3) at Erbray 1m 5f NH flat in Aug '07.
Pacific Ocean (ARG) 20-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 4th of 11, 9l behind Rutba (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Aug (Flat).
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 2-1fav (10-11) Prominent, mistake 6th, led after, soon ridden, jumped left and rider lost iron 2 out, kept on well, won at N Abbot 2m 3f cnd mdn hdl (5) gd in Aug beating Winning Show (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Postmaster 15-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, led 3 out, hit 2 out, headed before last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 3l behind King's Head (11-2) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept.
Quartz Du Montceau (FR) 40-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 22l behind Great Endeavour (10-13) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Sironi (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) (cp) a.p; led app 9; stayed on wl, won at High Easter 3m ptp gf in Apr beating Jack Ford (12-0) by 6l, 14 ran.
Marsh Court 10-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden, chased leader 8th, distant 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Lamanver Homerun (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Mar, 5 ran.
Sandy Denny (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Mid-division, weakened over 3f out, 5th of 10, 14l behind Crow Spinney (10-4) at Stratford 2m nhf (5) sft in Sept.
Captain Sirus (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, well behind Sky Hall (11-12) at Cork 2m hdl gd in Apr.
Miss Carroll 4-5fav (10-9) Held up in touch, pulled hard, ridden 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 7, 18l behind Galapagos Islands (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Jun.
