in rear, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, driven out
held up in touch, mistake 4th, not fluent 9th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on to chase winner after last, one pace
held up, not fluent 8th, weakened next
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway to go prominent approaching 6th, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on from last
held up towards rear, outpaced from 9th
tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out
led to 3rd, tracked leader, pushed along and lost place from 8th, weakened after 5 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, outpaced from 4 out
Ideal du Bois Beury has to go close off this weight and is taken to beat Mikasa and Arctic Cherry. The selection paid the price for an uncharacteristic error last time and had previously gone close on numerous occasions. On paper this doesn't look the strongest of events and with this promising apprentice reducing the weight by ten pounds a big run can be expected. Mikasa ran his best race for some time when chasing home Fountain Brig at Ayr last month. We are not sure this drop in trip will suit, but nevertheless he could make it into the money. Arctic Cherry is steadily dropping down the weights and is likely to pop up sometime, we don't think it will be today, but he should make his presence felt. The best of the rest could be Bob's Buster, but at the weights today we have to go with Ideal du Bois Beury.
Bob's Buster 5-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 6th, every chance approaching 3 out, soon faded, 5th of 7, 14l behind Lorient Express (11-0) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Dec.
Glenfarclas Boy (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, blundered 11th, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 39l behind Almire Du Lia (11-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
Mikasa (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Held up, chased leaders 2 out, soon every chance, no extra flat, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Fountain Brig (10-0) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Arctic Cherry (IRE) 7-2 (10-2) Led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, 5th and weakening when mistake next, 5th of 10, well behind Captain Mac (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Gaucho 33-1 (10-9) Always behind, lost touch and pulled up at the 8th in race won by Tribal Dispute (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m beg chs (E) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Ideal du Bois Beury (FR) 10-3 (9-12) Held up in touch, 2 lengths down and every chance when unseated rider in race won by Word Gets Around (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf, 6 ran.
Named At Dinner 66-1 (10-8) Held up, behind when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Shares (10-8) at Ayr 2m beg chs (D) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Lion Guest (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Prominent to halfway, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by One Five Eight (11-7) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Pornic (FR) 25-1 (9-13) Always behind, 6th of 10, 39l behind Bohemian Spirit (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f amt hcp chs 0-95 (F) gf in Dec.
