chased leaders, challenged from 4 out, narrow lead when stumbled and rider lost iron 2 out, regained lead before last, drew clear flat
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened soon after next
made most, headed 4 out, ridden before next, weakened from 2 out
always behind, ridden and struggling from 7th
behind, headway 5th, stayed on approaching last, kept on flat, went 3rd near finish
pulled hard, with leaders, pulled up 2nd
bumped 1st, tracking leaders when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, soon led again, headed before last, no chance with winner flat
took keen hold, always in rear
chased leaders, hit 5th and next, weakened 4 out, tailed off
always behind, tailed off when fell 2 out
Apocal may attract some interest back over hurdles but MONN ROYAL represents a stable in good form and is fancied to make a winning UK debut. Although the stable are starting to slow up a bit, Venetia Williams is still having winners and Monn Royal looks an obvious contender here. A brother to Royal Katidoki, the five-year-old signed off in France with a narrow success at Auteuil. His handicap mark of 99 is a real unknown but it could prove to be very lenient and he is worth chancing. Burnswood disappointed last time at Sedgefield and he is now tried in cheek-pieces, Pourdel represents a stable in good form and he makes his handicap debut today, whilst Arturo Uno's bumper win came on good ground and he is better than two recent heavy-ground runs would suggest. Speedy Directa seemed to idle when winning a Chepstow seller last time, whilst at the other end of the handicap Dastardly Dick's form looks solid enough and this looks an easier race. If he can handle the big weight then he must be a player, but it is Monn Royal who looks the most interesting and is selected accordingly.
Darstardly Dick (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 24l behind Silk Affair (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Apocal (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) In touch, left 3rd 2 out, 3rd and no chance when fell at the last in race won by Shouldhavehadthat (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Arturo Uno (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) In rear, held when mistakes 7th and 8th, 10th of 13, well behind Jaunty Journey (11-3) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Burnswood (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) In touch, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 35l behind What Happened (9-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Pourdel (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, well behind Acordeon (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Monn Royal (FR) (10-3) Held up, headway to lead near finish, won at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl in May beating Daliapourovitch (11-0) by a hd, 16 ran.
Massini Moon (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, never near leaders, 6th of 15, 18l behind Pickamus (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Tenor De Balme (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until outpaced approaching 3 out, beaten when hit rails approaching 2 out, 6th of 10, 20l behind Swainson (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Speedy Directa (GER) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 4 out until next, led 2 out, ridden when pecked last, drifted right, all out, won at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs beating Waltham Abbey (11-7) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Midnight Spirit 50-1 (10-1) Held up, held from 6th, 8th of 10, well behind Is It Me (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jul.
Katie Kingfisher 100-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, raced keenly, not fluent 2nd, headway after 4th, went 2nd next, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, 38l behind Roisin's Prince (10-9) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.
