mid-division, reminder after 6th, not fluent 7th, headway 3 out, saddle slipped before last, lost weight cloth flat, stayed on, just failed for 2nd, finished 3rd, disqualified and placed last
held up towards rear, hampered on bend after 5th, headway after next, went 3rd 7th, led between last 2, ran on well flat
in rear, some headway when mistake 3 out, no further progress
pressed leader, led 2 out, headed between last 2, stayed on same pace, flat, just held on for 2nd
mid-division, struggling from 6th
led, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened last, finished 5th, awarded 4th place
prominent, hit 5th, soon pushed along, behind from next, tailed off
prominent, ridden after 7th, weakening when blundered 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, 4th and one pace when mistake 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, some headway approaching 7th, no further progress
mid-division, lost action and pulled up after 6th
prominent, weakened after 3 out
reluctant to line up, held up last, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
towards rear, jumped left 3rd, reminders after 5th, behind from next, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened approaching 6th, mistake next
always behind
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 6th
Nonrunner
BIG ROB gets the nod over Lady Pilot and Hereditary, while Absolut Power and Irish Whispers are others to bear in mind for each-way thieves. The last named has won or made the frame in over half of his starts over hurdles; so brings the right profile to the table. Marc Goldstien knows the gelding well and a big effort would hardly be a bolt from the blue. Absolut Power seems to have been around forever and is as wily as they come. He posted a good effort here last time out and is respected on that performance alone. A betting move in his direction would be interesting. Hereditary is just 3lb above his last winning mark, so has a feasible chance on these terms. He acts on the ground and is a likely contender at this level. As is Lady Pilot, who ran a blinder over course and distance 15 days ago. This is her favourite course and another bold effort looks assured. However, Big Rob, who won at this meeting last year, also returns to a track that plays to his strengths. The conditions hold no fears for Brendan Powell's charge and, as he is very well treated in comparison to his rating over fences, Big Rob is more than capable of making this another successful day out for his connections, if everything goes his way.
Important Business (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden after 7th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 22, 14l behind Andytown (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Lady Pilot 9-1 (11-10) Held up, raced keenly, not fluent 5th, headway 6th, soon steadied, headway after 3 out, not clear run just before 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Chaim (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Hereditary 16-1 (11-8) Always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 13, 38l behind Equilibria (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Absolut Power (GER) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, lost place halfway, under pressure 2 out, stayed on well, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Mick Jerome (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Thehonourablelady 100-1 (10-7) Not jump well, behind from 5th, tailed off and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Shatabdi (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) gs, 8 ran.
Big Rob (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Prominent, reminders 7th, led approaching 14th, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 3rd of 6, 6l behind The Dark Lord (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Tickateal 50-1 (11-2) Always in rear, 11th of 14, well behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Irish Whispers (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Chased leaders until outpaced after 3 out, stayed on again approaching last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 14, 14l behind Ned Ludd (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Ceoperk (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, shaken up after 7th, headway before next, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 12, 35l behind Ricardo's Chance (11-4) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Nautical Approach (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not always fluent, headway approaching 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 13, 39l behind Cape Tribulation (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Sir Brastias 10-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 11th or 13th, headway approaching 3 out, 3 lengths 4th and ridden when blundered 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 8l behind Out The Black (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr '07.
Eastwell Smiles 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden and struggling before 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 12, well behind Chariot Charger (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft.
Diarius (GER) 13-2 (10-3) Tracked leader, ridden after 8th, outpaced next, plugged on again after 2 out, 6th of 9, 23l behind Cannon Fire (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Trebello 8-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 6th, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 29l behind Aimigayle (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Cemgraft 28-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, beaten when badly hampered 9th, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Hasanpour (10-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
So Brash (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 6th of 10, well behind I'm A Legend (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Domenico (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway when fell 4 out in race won by Heathcliff (10-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 15 ran.
Pelo Du Bief (FR) 40-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, hampered 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 22l behind Midnight Chase (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Onyx Bruere (FR) 9-2 (11-4) In touch, ridden and close up when mistake 2 out, weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Money Order (10-12) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb '07.
Go Harvey Go (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 6th, went 4th after 7th, no impression approaching 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 18, 14l behind Big Rob (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec '07.
