raced in 4th, challenged, hit 15th, hit 17th, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
chased winner to 11th, stayed prominent, mistake 17th, weakened after 4 out, no chance when fell 2 out
held up, ridden 12th, outpaced 15th, stayed on one pace from 4 out
made all, slowly pressed 2 out, in command last, driven clear flat
chased winner 11th to 15th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied under pressure last, stayed on flat, went 2nd last stride
soon struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
held up in 5th, hit 6th, headway 17th, chased winner next, upsides 2 out, ridden, no impression last, lost 2nd final stride
Underwriter can land this handicap chase at the main expense of Yardbird and Presenting Express. The selection hasn't won since he was a novice but he was a little unlucky last time when he blundered when travelling well at Kempton. He finished third that day behind Oniz Tiptoes but he showed enough to suggest that his turn might not be far away. Yardbird is returning from a break here but Alan King has got his string in good form and it would be no surprise to see him go well on his seasonal reappearance. Presenting Express finished behind the selection last time but he made a couple of mistake and was not given a hard race after that, so he could be capable of better today. Bubble Boy is a course and distance winner and he can go well at a price, but Underwriter ran well last time and he rates as a solid bet.
Presenting Express (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Never going well in rear, blundered and reminder 11th, no chance after, 7th of 12, 23l behind Oniz Tiptoes (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Celtic Boy (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 12th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Bowleaze (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Yardbird (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders and driven 13th, weakened 16th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Alexanderthegreat (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 50-1 (9-11) Led, hit 11th, headed next, hit 14th, challenged 15th, blundered and weakened 4 out, 8th of 9, 42l behind Ardaghey (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Underwriter (USA) 8-1 (10-11) Behind, headway from 4 out, disputing 3 lengths 3rd when blundered 2 out, soon no impression on front pair, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Oniz Tiptoes (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Galtee View (IRE) 5-1co-fav (11-12) Towards rear, ridden 16th, stayed on, 6th of 12, 13l behind Professor Hegarty (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Mister Apple's (FR) 7-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and headway 12th, chance approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Special Conquest (9-11) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
