held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led soon after, jumped slowly last, stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, weakened after 3 out, mistake last
led to 2nd, chased leader, hit 7th, every chance 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last
mid-division, blundered 5th, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed soon after, stayed on same pace flat, no impressioon on winner
in touch, every chance 2 out, one pace last
mid-division, headway 4th, led and blundered 3 out, headed 2 out, eased and weakened before last
in rear, jumped slowly 4th, no chance after 7th, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 7th, chasing leaders when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, mistake last
with leader, led 2nd, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out
always behind, tailed off
in touch, mistakes 5th and 6th, 8th and weakening when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, mistake 7th, soon struggling, no impression after
prominent, raced keenly, weakened from 7th
A fascinating race in which we will side with BONIKOS ahead of Bakbenscher, Jokers Legacy, Picture This and Lindeman. The step up in trip may be the making of a few of these, and the feeling is that this more testing track will suit the selection. Nicky Henderson's gelding scraped home at Huntingdon recently in a fair race but plenty is thought of him and he can shoulder his penalty to victory. Also penalised for a win is Bakbenscher, and Alan King's charge should relish the longer trip today. Jokers Legacy was fancied last time at Warwick but was well-held, improvement can be expected however after that hurdling debut. Lindeman is another Henderson runner in the line-up (he has three), and she is talented so watch in the betting on her first hurdles run, whilst Picture This has had to miss an engagement or two lately and has his first start for Paul Nicholls today. At a price Cypress Grove could run well, however in an open contest it is Bonikos who can take the prize.
Bakbenscher 13-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, hit 4 out, never going well after, tailed off when hit 2 out, 7th of 8, 30l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-5) at Ascot 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Bonikos (FR) 5-2fav (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway 7th, soon chasing leader, every chance 2 out, led last, held on under pressure, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov beating Bob Run (10-12) by a ns, 11 ran.
Ballycarney (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 8th, 9th of 11, well behind Alderluck (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Captain Americo (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Chased leaders to 4 out, soon beaten, 13th of 16, well behind Copper Bleu (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Charingworth (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden 3f out, every chance 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Pause And Clause (11-2) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gs in Nov.
Cypress Grove (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 6th of 11, 10l behind Charity Lane (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Hector Barbossa 33-1 (11-0) Mid division, headway over 4f out, no impression over 2f out, 4th of 10, 14l behind Springfield Raki (11-7) at Towcester 2m nhf (5) sft in Nov.
Jokers Legacy (IRE) 5-2fav (10-9) In touch, not fluent 7th, soon led, weakening when mistake 2 out, mistake last, 5th of 18, 17l behind Weird Al (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
One And All (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden from 7th, beaten when mistake 2 out, 4th of 11, well behind Shalone (11-5) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Picture This (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, improved 4 out, led 1f out, edged right near finish, all out, won at Navan 2m nhf sft in Mar beating Limestone Cowboy (11-0) by a shd, 14 ran.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Quello Malta at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl sft in Oct.
Snakecharm (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Always in rear, 10th of 16, well behind Finney (11-2) at Chepstow 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Feb.
Son Histoire (FR) 100-1 (10-5) Held up, weakened from 7th, hit next and pulled up 3 out in race won by Massasoit (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Oct, 16 ran.
You And I (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 15, 43l behind Tisfreetdream (10-11) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Lindeman (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, held up towards rear, effort 2f out, no impression, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 19l behind Shinrock Paddy (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m nhf lst (1) sft in Nov.
Reasontobecheerful 100-1 (9-12) Towards rear, outpaced after 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, took poor 3rd after last, 3rd of 10, 26l behind Latanier (10-9) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (3) hvy.
