not always fluent, always behind
prominent, led 9th, headed after 2 out, hung left and weakened flat
soon in touch, mistake 4th, stumbled 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd after next, led after 2 out, well in command when hung left towards finish
prominent, hit 5th, outpaced when hit 4 out, rallied 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
led, stumbled 8th, headed next, weakened approaching 2 out
in rear after mistake 1st, behind after
chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 9th, no threat after
held up towards rear, headway 8th, weakened last
MISTER MCGOLDRICK makes most appeal in this handicap chase and he is nominated over Laskari and Bob Bob Bobbin. Sue Smith's 12 year-old Mister McGoldrick has been a grand servant to connections and he ran a blinder last time at Kelso when he finished third behind Albanov. He made a blunder that day but he was still running-on at the finish and he is back on a fair mark at present so he could be one to stick with here. Laskari and Bob Bob Bobbin are closely-matched on their running at Aintree last month but the drop in trip will be more of a plus for Laskari than for Bob Bob Bobbin. Borora does not win very often these day and his last two runs have been disappointing. However, he is still on a fair mark and he has his optimum ground conditions so he could be a factor in the finish. Emma Lavelle won this race last year and her runner Kenzo Iii is another to consider at an each-way price, but the vote is given to Mister McGoldrick.
Hobbs Hill 8-1 (11-12) Prominent, went 2nd 8th to next, regained 2nd 14th, led 15th, strongly pressed 2 out, driven and already headed when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Briery Fox (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Mister McGoldrick 5-1 (11-1) Led, mistake 6th, soon headed, tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Albanov (10-4) at Kelso 2m 1f Ltd hcp chs (2) gs.
Knight Legend (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tended to jump right, led 2nd, hit 10th, mistake 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, weakened and blundered 2 out, 5th of 8, 14l behind Bible Lord (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Laskari (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 5f out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Lysander (9-13) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Alderburn 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, reminders 5th, ridden and hit 10th, mistake and dropped out 12th, struggling 13th, 9th of 11, 16l behind Lyes Green (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Kenzo Iii (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Led, under pressure after 3 out, blundered next, headed approaching last, stayed on gamely towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Bishop's Bridge (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs (10yo+) (2) gd in Nov '08.
Bob Bob Bobbin 9-2 (10-9) Held up, chased leaders approcahing 8th, led 10th, headed 5 out, every chance approaching last, soon weakened, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Lysander (9-13) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Borora 11-1 (11-4) Slightly hampered 1st, always behind, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Nudge And Nurdle (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 22-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, struggling 4 out, some headway after 2 out, never in contention, 8th of 13, 13l behind Poquelin (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Oct.
