chased leaders until fell 5th
chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, no chance with winner 2 out, lost 2nd after last
never travelling or jumping with any fluency, always in rear, ridden 12th, struggling and hit next, tailed off
held up in rear, slightly hampered 1st, steady headway 12th, chasing leaders in 4th when blundered 4 out, pushed along and no real impression after
held up until fell 1st
held up in mid-division, hit 12th and lost place after, kept on again flat but no chance
in touch, ridden 12th, soon lost place, tailed off
chased leaders, slightly hampered 5th, blundered and lost place 12th, plugged on after 4 out, no danger
mid-division, ridden 7th, soon dropped to rear, struggling 10th, tailed off 13th
soon towards rear, pushed along and struggling 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, mistake and ridden 6th, blundered badly 11th, not recover, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led and hit 4th, made most after, hit 7th, headed 4 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
close up, led 3 out, clear 2 out, pushed out flat, easily
raced wide, held up well in rear, headway approaching 4 out, driven to chase leading pair before 2 out, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner
led and mistake 1st, narrowly headed 4th, remained challenging until weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A big field and an open contest for this handicap chase where OR JAUNE is the selection ahead of Little Josh. The Gary Moore-trained pick loves it at this track, having won on both his starts over course and distance when in novices' company. He acts on both good ground and, particularly well, on softer going, and looks to be on a decent mark of 134. His Sandown run earlier in the month will have straightened him out after an eight-month break and he should be spot-on for this. Little Josh dispensed of a reasonable field at Kelso with some authority, and will probably try to make all here. One previous try over three miles saw him well behind Pride Of Dulcote in a hurdle last season, but this is an easier track and they will do well not to let him get too far ahead in spite of his having to prove his stamina. Pretty Star is consistent and wouldn't mind some rain. He stays well and will be keeping on at the end, though is it questionable whether he will have the necessary toe. Piraya will find this easier than the Racing Post Chase but will still need to improve to win it judged on his Newbury reappearance run, while Timmy Murphy's sole previous ride on board I'moncloudnine resulted in a win, and the soft-ground lover should be noted in the market as he would certainly have each-way claims. Soixante is tricky to win with but is rarely out of the frame, although there are stamina concerns over him, while Lodge Lane has a tough job shouldering top weight in such a competitive heat, but he is a decent sort who likes to get his toe in and is respected. Au Courant is better than he showed at Newbury and has a 50 per cent strike rate. Although he has not yet shown he gets three miles, his pedigree suggests that this should be his trip and he acts with cut, so could go close. Even so, Or Jaune has plenty going for him and gets the nod.
Lodge Lane (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, hampered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy, 14 ran.
Piraya (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Close up, ridden and outpaced approaching 12th, stayed on again under pressure from after 2 out, 3rd of 18, 7l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
West End Rocker (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Always behind, 10th of 18, 38l behind Ellerslie George (10-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Au Courant (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Soon close up, challenged and every chance approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 18, 29l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Little Josh (IRE) 2-5fav (11-0) Made all, clear approaching last, eased towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov beating Drever Route (11-0) by 9l, 4 ran.
Or Jaune (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 40l behind Seven Is My Number (10-13) at Sandown 3m listed ch (1) sft.
The Sawyer (BEL) 9-2fav (11-3) Held up in touch, mistake 9th, in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 13th, in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Pretty Star (GER) 16-1 (11-9) Made most, ridden when pressed 3 out, driven approaching last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Any Currency (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Oceanos des Obeaux (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 10th, struggling after, tailed off, 10th of 18, 50l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Pak Jack (FR) 12-1 (9-13) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, 8th of 16, 16l behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft.
Valley Ride (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, well held when fell 13th (Valentines), in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Soixante (IRE) 8-15fav (11-5) Raced keenly, led, jumped slowly, headed 7th, regained narrow lead next, headed 2 out, soon ridden, switched right flat, one pace, edged right, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Man From Highworth (10-5) at Towcester 2m nov stks (4) gd in Apr.
Fortification (USA) 10-3 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway to lead 10th, made rest, stayed on well from 2 out, driven out, won at Hereford 3m 1f am hcp ch 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Go West (11-1) by 3l, 8 ran.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Held up in touch, headway to chase leading pair 4 out, ridden 2 out, went 2nd before last, kept on flat, no impression, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Strawberry (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Dark Ben (FR) 4-1fav (10-7) Made all, jumped well, clear 2 out, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Silent Bay (11-11) by 17l, 9 ran.
Bowleaze (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, lost place 8th, headway after 10th to track leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 11, 8l behind Any Currency (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Shouldhavehadthat (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) In touch on outside, weakened and behind from 5 out, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind The Last Derby (10-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
