chased leaders, mistake 13th, weakened 4 out
not always fluent, in rear, blundered 16th, always behind
in touch, lost place 5th, struggling 17th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, took keen hold, headway 12th, led 17th, ridden when not fluent and headed 2 out, weakened last
pressed leader until approaching 15th, weakened 4 out, hampered 2 out, tailed off
led to 17th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 15th, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, driven when landed awkwardly last, headed towards finish
always in rear, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 17th, rider dropped whip 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish
held up, headway 16th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, blundered 15th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 16th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th and no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Having been pulled up in each of his previous three starts Sarah Humprey's YA I KNOW showed much improved form when landing a handicap chase on heavy ground at Market Rasen and he can defy the 7lb penalty for that success, getting the vote ahead of Patchoulie Conti and Matmata de Tendron. Andy Crook's gelding ran much better on soft ground when chasing home Treehouse at Carlisle recently and he has to be strongly considered off just a 1lb higher mark today. Bafana Boy has been well beaten in his most recent starts and looks best watched with a bigger threat likely to come from Lethem Present. Tim Butt's mare has been dropped another 4lbs following her most recent start at Newcastle so she has been given a chance by the handicapper and has to be considered. Finbin has not progressed from his win at Wetherby in May, while Patchoulie Conti was well held on her chasing debut here earlier this month on her reappearance but is lightly raced and there may be more to come. The vote though goes the way of Sarah Humphrey's Ya I Know, who is taken to follow up his recent Market Rasen success.
Ya I Know (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) In touch, headway to lead after 4 out, ridden approaching last, hung left and kept on under pressure flat, won at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy beating Kercabellec (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bafana Boy 17-2 (10-12) Held up, some headway 8th, driven along after 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off, 4th of 5, 34l behind Cruise Director (10-11) at Southwell 3m clm hdl (5) gf.
Finbin (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 10th, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 25l behind Simply Smashing (11-5) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Patchoulie Conti (FR) 13-2 (10-6) Towards rear, soon tracking leaders, blundered 12th, weakened next, 5th of 7, 38l behind Charingworth (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) gd.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Close up, every chance 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Treehouse (9-12) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Lethem Present (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) With winner, pushed along approaching 9th, reminders after next, blundered 11th, kept on from 4 out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Dark Ben (10-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
El Tuco (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Towards rear, 12th before 4 out, soon no impression, 10th of 17, 39l behind Pistol Jack (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens02 sft.
Shulmin 18-1 (10-8) Always behind, 9th of 12, well behind Garleton (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Opus Cafe (FR) 7-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Alcatras (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec '07, 16 ran.
Lusento (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) In touch, lost place 4 out, 9th of 11, 34l behind Bob's Dream (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Ellandshe (IRE) 200-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, brought down 11th, in a race won by Mumbles Head (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs, 8 ran.
Liz's Dream 9-2 (10-3) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 25l behind Dukeofchesterwood (11-5) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
