led, headed 4 out, still every chance next, weakened 2 out, fourth and tired when fell last
held up in touch, headway approaching 5th, chased winner approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last
prominent, lost place 6th, behind when mistake 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, kept on one pace flat
held up in rear, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led approaching 3 out, ridden clear approaching last, kept on well flat
in touch, headway approaching 6th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next
held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next
prominent, led 4 out, soon headed, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly approaching next, tailed off
Although there are 13 runners for this maiden chase, only five are worth a mention. Braeburn hails from the very in-form yard of Richard Philips, but will do well on this belated return. Lord Maizey, a bumper winner in Ireland before Christmas, was pitched in at the deep end behind Ask Henry on his chasing debut at Chepstow and was tailed off. There can only be better to come. San Marino was third at Folkestone on his first outing over fences and was only third. Well-bred for the jumping game though, being by Torus out of a Lucifer mare, he will excel over much further in time. Runner Bean, a dual bumper winner, failed to add to that over hurdles, and was well held at Hereford last time. He and the rest quite simply have it all to do against Nicky Henderson's Deoch An Dorais. The stable is choc full of classy novice chasers, and although this ex-Irish is not one of them, he has shown enough to suggest that he will take the beating. His last two outings have been at Leicester, on the first occasion coming to grief at the second fence, and more recently when running out of steam over two miles and seven furlongs. The drop back in trip is a big plus in our opinion, and if kept up with the pace, he should have little more than an exercise canter before.
