led, headed 5th, ridden 3 out, soon driven and beaten
prominent, led 5th, ridden 2 out, headed flat, kept on
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on flat, not reach leaders
in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, challenged last, driven to lead flat, stayed on well
tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider 5th
in rear, headway when blundered 9th, behind from 4 out
mid-division, lost place approaching 10th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, ridden 4 out, never trouble leaders
mid-division, reminders 6th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
always behind
The feature contest of the season at Huntingdon has benefited for replacing the fixture within the calendar with a decent sized, good quality field. This contest is one of a small number of graded events which Paul Nicholls has failed to get a handle on in the last number of years owing mainly to Henrietta's Knight's dominance of it. That can be put straight here with NATAL. Second in this race last year when only two lined up, he was rated 144 twelve months ago but subsequently has showed has shown marked improvement with a fine win in the Connaught Gold Cup at Newbury where Nacarat was behind. That was followed by a career best effort when second behind his stable companion Twist Magic in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown which has resulted in a lofty rise in the ratings. He was noticeably weak in the market at Exeter and quite possibly was in need of the run. First time blinkers are applied to Snoopy Loopy who has been a revelation over the last number of months, stretching as far back as his win in the Summer Plate in July. One feels this race may just be an after-thought thought as connections seek to pick up valuable points as they strive to win the Order of Merit title. Monet's Garden does not seem the force of old judging on how his form dipped late last season on his performance on his seasonal debut. My Way De Solzen returns to chasing for the first time since the King George last December. Considering his splendid season culminating in an Arkle victory it was such a lacklustre season last year, for which connections never seemed sure on what the reason was. He now has something to prove. At bigger prices Nacarat could be the surprise package. He has in the past proven that he goes well fresh. He has an 8lb pull at the weights with Natal when jockey claims from Newbury are taken into account and he could reward each way supporters but Natal is taken to confirm his Newbury form and land the Peterborough Chase.
One Cool Cookie (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Attempted to make all, ridden and strongly pressed entering straight, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner and kept on same pace in 2nd from last, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Glenfinn Captain (11-5) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs Grd 2 hvy in Nov.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders until lost place from 12th, blundered 14th, stayed on approaching 2 out, driven and kept on under pressure flat, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs i.
Mister McGoldrick 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders until 8th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Imperial Commander (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 19 ran.
Monet's Garden (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Led 3rd, left in lead 7th, headed 10th, upsides 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 12, 15l behind Knowhere (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Natal (FR) 15-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, mistake 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Ashley Brook (10-4) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Raced in 3rd, went 2nd 5th, slipped on landing 8th, not recover, 4th of 7, 47l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gs.
Mont Misere (FR) (10-3) 7th of 9, 21l behind Le Ribardon (10-12) at Chateaubriant 2m 4f NH flat in Aug.
Lord Henry (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 7th, jumped right and not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, soon held, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Jack The Giant (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
My Way de Solzen (FR) 9-2 (11-7) In touch, tracked leaders 6th, ridden and weakened when not fluent 3 out, 6th of 9, 37l behind Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Ungaro (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon headway, one pace, 4th of 15, 15l behind According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Nacarat (FR) 6-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 4th, headed when not fluent 2 out, weakened quickly and pulled up at the last in race won by Earth Planet (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
