held up, not fluent 10th, headway 11th, switched left approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, one pace flat
in touch, headway 11th, hit next, every chance 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat
led to 4th, pushed along after 10th, weakened next
behind 3rd, hit 8th, headway 9th, mistake and lost place 10th, rallied 15th, ridden after 3 out, no extra towards finish
prominent, lost place and reminder after 9th, headway 11th, weakened 12th
held up, headway 2nd, led 4th, driven out
prominent, not fluent 10th, mistake 14th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
A competitive little handicap chase that can be taken by veteran Jungle Jinks, with Moulin Riche, Wain Mountain and Undeniable others to consider. The selection has been raised just 2lb for winning a heavy ground Wetherby chase last time out over a furlong further. He also acts around Haydock, having beaten Ebony Light over course and distance in 2004, and he races from a 3lb lower mark here than when doing so. That gives him a clear chance on the book, and as he is in form we will side with him. Moulin Riche is respected as top weight and as part of the Doumen raiding party. He too likes to get his toe in and has already won chases in France. He may work out better over fences than his already decent hurdling ability, but he is set to carry a hefty racing weight here and we will oppose. Wain Mountain doesn't win often but did so in desperate ground at Lingfield on his penultimate start. The blinkers that were effective that ay are back on, and with A P McCoy booked he is given plenty of respect, but just overlooked. Of the others, Undeniable makes some appeal but has not yet encountered heavy ground and he has also gone up 6lb for a defeat last time, so we will take him on with Jungle Jinks, who can follow up his Wetherby win.
Moulin Riche (FR) 2-1jt-fav (11-7) Held up, mistake 3rd, pushed along when fell 4 out in race won by Mighty Man (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hdl (B) gs in Dec, 6 ran.
Wain Mountain 7-2fav (11-2) Led to 4th, tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 17l behind Claymore (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft.
Strong Resolve (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Led to 3rd, led again 6th, headed 7th, weakened approaching 12th, 6th of 10, 47l behind The Bajan Bandit (11-10) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
Undeniable 7-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 2 out, headed flat, rallied towards finish, 2nd of 8, shd behind Ossmoses (10-0) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gs in Dec.
Jungle Jinks (IRE) 4-1 (10-5) With leaders, reminders after 9th, led 4 out, under pressure and not fluent 3 out, all out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Moorlands Again (10-7) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
King Bee (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up, mistake 4th, lost place 8th, behind when fell at the 9th in race won by Precious Bane (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Tom Fruit 7-2jt-fav (11-3) Held up, blundered and unseated rider in race won by Naunton Brook (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft, 9 ran.
