in touch, headway 6th, ridden 4 out, blundered 3 out, not recover
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, weakened 8th, mistake 3 out, pulled up 2 out
made all, driven out
in rear, detached from 4th
held up, ridden and weakened 8th
held up, headway 7th, chased winner from 4 out, one pace
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leader from 4th, ridden and weakened 3 out
towards rear, some headway after 9th, ridden 4 out, soon held
always in rear
Of the recent winners, OISEAU DE NUIT is preferred to Pret A Thou whilst there are a few of interest from amongst the remainder with Lorient Express perhaps the best of them. The Hobbs runner has posted improved efforts since returning to action this term, thrashing Sole Agent by 17 lengths at Lingfield and then coming up short against Jigsaw Dancer. There was no disgrace in defeat to Andy Turnell's progressive chaser and he can resume winning ways here. Pret A Thou has risen by 13lbs for his runaway success at Hereford but he rather got the run of the race there and is opposable from his revised mark. Lorient Express has a fair bit to prove but he has course form to his name and is from an in-form yard that's capable of having him ready. Picot De Say isn't the biggest but has run well on both chase starts here and should benefit from returning to the minimum trip whilst Brave Villa is capable of getting involved if recapturing his best form. Rustler hasn't always delivered as much as promise but L'Eau Du Nil has his first run over British fences and comes into the race in form. This is another interesting heat but Oiseau De Nuit has plenty going for him and is taken to triumph.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 11-8fav (11-6) Held up, hampered 6th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Jigsaw Dancer (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Brave Villa (FR) 22-1 (10-3) Chased winner until weakened well before 4 out, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Petit Robin (11-3) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Lorient Express (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, mistake 7th, headway approaching 4 out, one pace, 6th of 7, 7l behind Rakalackey (10-8) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May '07.
Sole Agent (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up, tracked winner from 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, chased winner from 4 out, 2 lengths down when not fluent last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Kilmackilloge (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Picot de Say 7-2 (10-6) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 7th, mistake 11th, one pace when mistake last, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Opera de Coeur (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 11th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 26l behind Opera de Coeur (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Pret A Thou (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Made all, clear 2 out, ran on, won at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs beating Folie A Deux (11-7) by 21l, 14 ran.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway after 6th, chased leaders after 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Six Day War (11-6) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Rustler 7-2 (11-7) Led, clear until after 5th, hit 9th, headed 4 out, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Picot de Say (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
