behind, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, blundered, bumped 2nd, behind from 4th, mistake 6th, pulled up after 3 out
in touch, mistake 4th, weakened 5th, in 3rd when blundered 3 out
in rear, jumped left, bumped 2nd, behind when pulled up before 3 out
in rear, mistake 2nd, soon tailed off, very tired jump 7th, pulled up after
tracked leader, led 7th, left clear 3 out
ran out approaching 1st
in touch, weakened 6th
mid-division, jumped left throughout, behind from 5th, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders, left 2nd 8th, chasing winner when mistake 3 out, no further impression
led, pecked 5th, headed 7th, unseater rider next
A very moderate affair here involving plenty of exposed animals and we will make a very tentative selection of Jupon Vert, while Noresman Cateline and The Sneakster can also go well. This preview truly is a pinsticker's guide to the race, as it is impossible to be confident about any of them. However, Jupon Vert has at least won over the track and this trip, while he also handles cut. He is unlucky in that the handicapper is taking a long time to drop him for not winning, but he is slipping slightly now and may be capable of landing this. Noresman Cateline is dropped 6lb since his last run and he has run well off higher marks than this. This, however, is a major drop back in trip and it remains to be seen if he has the speed. The Sneakster has run some decent races in defeat including when runner up at Leicester on good ground last time, but just looks to be one paced, while She's Beautiful should show us more now that she goes over fences, though looking at her hurdles form that shouldn't be difficult. Not one to lump on then, but Jupon Vert is just a suggestion if you really must.
Jupon Vert (FR) 9-1 (10-10) In touch, hit 3rd, ridden 7th, no impression after 3 out, 4th of 12, 23l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Flinders Bay (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Always behind, 7th of 11, well behind Chimichurri (11-5) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Nov.
Greenwood Maxi (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 2nd, headway after 4 out, 6th and in touch when mistake and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Lugante (11-7) at Galway 2m 1f beg chs gd in Aug '06, 15 ran.
Laurier d'Estruval (FR) 66-1 (11-9) Prominent, weakened after 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Elsie's Pride (11-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Oakley Absolute 33-1 (11-6) Always behind, 5th of 14, 20l behind Tosula (10-0) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec.
Atacama Star 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, led 6th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened, 5th of 11, 14l behind Zorro De La Vega (11-2) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Grey Shark (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Led, headed approaching 2 out, weakening when hampered last, 8th of 15, 37l behind Brousse En Feux (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f amt nov hcp hdl (5) gs in Dec.
The Sneakster (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, chased winner 4th, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Mibleu (11-7) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
She's Beautiful (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Mid-division until weakened 6th, 10th of 16, 45l behind Daraz Rose (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Norseman Cateline (FR) 17-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 14th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 12, 21l behind Rifleman (11-1) at Hereford 3m 1f amt hcp chs (5) gd in Nov.
A Sea Commander (GER) 25-1 (10-6) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, led again 8th, headed 4 out, left in lead briefly 3 out, soon headed and weakened last, 3rd of 14, 10l behind Tosula (10-0) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Dec.
