started slowly, hampered 1st, lost touch halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, headed approaching last, no extra flat
blundered and unseated rider 1st
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, outpaced halfway
tracked leader, blundered 3rd, smooth headway to lead approaching last, pushed out flat
tracked leaders,effort when fluent and chased winner last, one pace flat
Water Taxi is taken to get the better of Irish raider Beautiful Vision and Ungaro in the day's feature race. Successful over hurdles here last March, Water Taxi made his chase debut at Towcester just over a fortnight ago, and despite being in need of the run, finished a very promising third behind Cherub and Charlton Kings, with the fourth horse well beaten off. Still only a five-year-old, he has the scope to make up into a decent novice chaser, and can make fitness count over his main rivals. Granted, Ungaro goes well fresh, and was himself a decent hurdler last term, while Beautiful Vision, unplaced in the 2005 Cheltenham Champion Bumper, ended last season by finishing fifth to Wellbeing at Aintree, and brings a touch of class to proceedings. Nevertheless, he will probably need the run, and with Graham Lee in the saddle, it is Water Taxi who makes most appeal.
Acceleration (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division, struggling from 4 out, 14th of 15, 40l behind Front Rank (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Beautiful Vision (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Prominent and keen, ridden 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 17, 20l behind Wellbeing (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Kalic d'Alm (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, 4th of 6, 19l behind Bishop's Bridge (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) gf in May '05.
Mistermagicman (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Behind and outpaced when fell 5 out in race won by General Alarm (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov chs (4) gf in Sept, 10 ran.
Mitey Perk (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) In touch, reminders, lost place 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Aces Four (11-6) at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (3) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Sheer Guts (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) In touch, led briefly after 9th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 37l behind Magic Sky (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) sft.
Ungaro (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 6th, ridden and some headway after 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 11, 31l behind Black Jack Ketchum (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Water Taxi 7-4 (11-6) Prominent, joined leader after 3 out, ridden and every chance last, not quicken flat, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Cherub (11-6) at Towcester 2m beg chs (4) gd.
