prominent, pecked 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out
prominent, led 3rd, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden, hung right 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 13th, ridden, jumped right from 4 out, joined leader 3 out, led 2 out, hard pressed, held on gamely
led until 3rd, prominent, led 4 out, ridden, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied and every chance flat, held near finish
mid-division, hit 7th, soon struggling, tailed off, pulled up before 12th
not always fluent, towards rear, ridden after 13th, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, pecked 13th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, hampered approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd flat, never troubled leaders
chased leaders until weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened before 2 out, blundered badly last
chased leaders until 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, ridden after 13th, weakening when hampered approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
A field of decent handicappers make this a competitive contest but it's difficult to find an edge. Yardbird is the tentative suggestion. Lucifer Bleu was really progressive last year and cannot be ruled out after just two starts this term but he hasn't shown enough to get us excited; Mort De Rire hasn't gone on from a decent start to his career in this country and even his yard's good form isn't enough to put him forwards. Elvis Returns ran a blinder last time and is only 3lbs higher but has always looked in need of further as has Keenan's Future who is also fresh. There are concerns with the form of I Hear Thunder, Always Waining and Preacher Boy whilst Rimsky and St Matthew may have left their races at Cheltenham. Caribou, De Blanc and Mokum are entertained but we prefer the claims of Yardbird. He's become something of a Kempton specialist and ran another decent race at the Sunbury venue last time when fifth to Gungadu. He has improved for the fitting of blinkers this season and the headgear helped him get the better of Caribou (5lbs better off for 5 lengths) at Kempton in December. That was the selection's first success since winning over course and distance in 2006; this is his first run at this track since and we think that Yardbird can emerge as cock of the walk.
Always Waining (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up, reminders after 9th, ridden 14th, soon struggling, tailed off from 15th, 7th of 9, well behind Irish Raptor (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Lucifer Bleu (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders until weakened 9th, 12th of 22, 41l behind Mister McGoldrick (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Oneway (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Mid-division, effort 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Natal (10-1) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Caribou (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, reminder after 9th, chased leader 12th, left in lead 3 out, jumped right and headed last, no extra, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Crystal d'Ainay (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f Grad Ch (2) gs in Feb.
Preacher Boy 6-1 (10-1) With leaders until 12th, soon ridden, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Neptune Collonges (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Yardbird (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, ridden and effort 15th, weakening when blundered badly 2 out, stayed on after, 5th of 15, 7l behind Gungadu (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Rimsky (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Towards rear, headway 13th, mistake 15th, weakened next, 10th of 20, 22l behind Old Benny (11-7) at Cheltenham 4m nov amt chs (2) gs.
St Matthew (USA) 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by High Chimes (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs, 24 ran.
Keenan's Future (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead post, won at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec beating Sharp Jack (11-0) by a shd, 8 ran.
Elvis Returns 20-1 (10-4) Always promient, led 16th, headed and 1 length down when blundered 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat, 2nd of 18, 8l behind Comply Or Die (11-12) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
De Blanc (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Held up, headway from 12th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 17l behind Maljimar (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan.
Mort De Rire (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Held up, headway after 12th, ridden after next, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 10, 16l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Mokum (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 13th, every chance when fell 2 out in race won by Bolachoir (11-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) gd, 11 ran.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Prominent until stumbled and fell at the 15th in race won by Petite Margot (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 7 ran.
