tracked leaders, hit 8th, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
led to 5th, tracked leader, led again 4 out, hard pressed from 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat
held up in touch, headway 4 out, effort 2 out, upsides last, ridden and kept on until edged right and no extra towards finish
prominent, challenged 4 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and one pace when not fluent last
held up, outpaced 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway to lead 5th, headed 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon beaten
Fourty Acers, Canada Street and Kilmackilloge look the main protagonists here and the nare vote is given to Forty Acers. The selection won well last time when beating Down;s Folly and although having top weight he looks a progressive type and he is taken to defy the handicaper under conditions that suit. Canada Street rates the main danger on his best form but he took a heavy fall last time out and it is hard to know if his confidence will have been effected so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Kilmackilloge is another that could go well as he won well last time when beating Terlan but his best form is on a faster surface and he is taken on with this in mind. Of the remainder Topinambour is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he looks weighted up to his best while Deja Vu will like the ground but may just need the run after a 394 day abscence and for the winner we return to Forty Acers.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 5-4jt-fav (11-6) Led, headed 6th, led 12th, headed 3 out, regained lead last, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov beating Down's Folly (11-6) by 5l, 11 ran.
Good Citizen (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Led and jumped left, headed after 4th, reminder next, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Principe Azzurro (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Nov.
Canada Street (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (10-13) Tracking leader when fell at the 9th in race won by Cloudless Dawn (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Topinambour (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Led to 3rd, led again next, headed 12th, chasing leaders when blundered 4 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Idris (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Deja Vu (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hampered 6th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Dun Doire (10-1) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft in Dec '05.
Atura Gatti 8-1 (10-13) Soon tracking leaders, led 4th, clear from 8th, ridden and stayed on well from last, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) gd in Nov beating Bestofthebrownies (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Dunguaire Lady (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Behind, headway 4 out, soon ridden and kept on, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Turnstile (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Kilmackilloge 11-8fav (11-0) Jumped well, led 2nd, clear from next, unchallenged, won at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd in Nov beating Terlan (10-7) by 17l, 6 ran.
