mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and challenged approaching 2 out, no chance with winner
held up last, headway after 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, driven clear flat
chased leader, ridden and led briefly 7th, weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden 7th, soon no chance
mid-division, headway to lead 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat
pulled early in mid-division, chased leaders 6th, hit 7th, ridden and soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, shaken up, headway approaching 2 out, ran on well to go 2nd from last
mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up, ridden 7th, never on terms
chased leader, ridden 7th, soon lost touch
prominent, joined leader approaching 6th, soon led, mistake and headed 7th, weakened 3 out
Chariot Charger looks to be going the right way judged by his recent success at Folkestone and Emma Lavelle's gelding has to be respected despite the penalty for that victory making life tougher here but BUSKER ROYAL sets a decent standard and he gets the vote ahead of Big Eared Fran. David Pipe's gelding was in the process of running a big race behind Dee Ee Williams at Cheltenham when last seen in October and he has to be considered if none the worse for that tumble. Paddys Honour ran well in both starts in bumpers and the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding has to be respected on his first start over hurdles. David Pipe's Good Man Jack, a winning Irish point-to-pointer, makes his rules debut for connections today and has to be considered but he is likely to do better when put over fences, while course bumper winner Beat The System is likely to find this tougher. Preference then is for Nicky Henderson's Busker Royal, who showed a decent level of form last season prior to opening his account when successful at Ascot in November. Two runs since that success have done little to suggest that he is not the one they all have to beat and the six-year-old gets the verdict in a potentially decent contest.
Busker Royal 5-1jt-fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 9th, challenged on bit 2 out, led last, ridden soon after, no extra and headed towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Cruchain (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Chariot Charger (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, steady headway 8th, challenged 2 out, led on bit between last 2, clear before last, pushed out flat, easily, won at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Any Currency (11-0) by 5l, 12 ran.
Beat The System 10-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 6f out, led over 2f out, soon ridden and wandered, held on gamely, all out, won at Taunton 2m 1f nhf (5) gs in Apr beating Bob 'n' You (11-2) by a hd, 13 ran.
Beyond Moonbeams 33-1 (10-13) Pulled early and held up, ridden 4f out, no impression, 9th of 11, 29l behind Pepe Simo (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f nhf (5) gs in Dec.
Big Eared Fran (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway on inside and pressing leaders when fell 3 out in race won by Dee Ee Williams (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Coup de Tabac (FR) (10-1) Some late headway, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Sunland De La Mare (10-1) at Fontainebleau 2m hdl hvy in Apr '07.
Good Man Jack (IRE) (12-0) 3rd of 14, 6l behind Fly The Fairway (12-0) at The Pigeons 3m ire ptp gs in Mar.
Lord Tomnoddy Tragic Role gelding out of Rosemoss.
Paddys Honour (IRE) 28-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, went 3rd 3f out, soon ridden, lost 3rd 2f out, regained 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Cloudy Times (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (4) sft in Oct.
Pine Native (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) In rear, mistakes 4th and reminders, always behind, 13th of 21, well behind Cracboumwiz (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Sona Sasta (IRE) Sonus gelding out of Derry Lark.
Thompson 16-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, some progress 8f out, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, well behind Nono Le Sage (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in May.
Waldo Pepper (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place before 5th, reminders next, soon struggling in rear, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Mad Max (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Anay Turge (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, no chance from 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Stow (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
