held up in rear, behind when fell 7th
chased leaders, jumped left 2nd, challenged 4 out, led after 3 out, ridden, headed 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division, well in touch, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, led 8th to 9th, led 10th until after 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division, jumped left, mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd, headway 5th, mistake 7th, weakened 3 out
led, blundered 1st, headed 8th, led 9th to 10th, beaten 2 out, jumped left last
chased leaders on outside, weakening when not fluent 3 out
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 6th, blundered, unseated rider next
in rear, hampered 7th, ridden 8th, stayed on from 2 out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, hit 5th, not fluent 10th, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well
ALFATRIX should take plenty of beating in this novices' handicap chase and he is taken to get the better of River Ripples and Cartier Opera. Neil Mulholland has made a good start to the season and Alfatrix showed enough last time out at this venue to make him a bet today. This longer trip is also a plus for him and off his current mark he holds rock solid claims. River Ripples was well beaten when last seen out at Cartmel in August but the heavy ground may have counted against him that day and he had previously been in good nick. Cartier Opera was a Listed winner on the Flat in France but he appears to be in the grip of the handicapper at present and we will need to see a bit more sparkle from him before he becomes a betting proposition. Andrew Turnell won this race last year but he will do well to repeat the feat with Mr Bond, and we will stick with Alfatrix as our confident choice.
Super Martina (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Prominent, weakened 2 out, 10th of 14, 34l behind Last Flight (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May.
River Ripples (IRE) 3-1fav (11-11) Towards rear, headway 9th, ridden and weakend approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 36l behind Getinbybutonlyjust (11-5) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (4) hvy in Aug.
Alfatrix (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Bennynthejets (11-11) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Lord Appellare (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, weakened 8th, ridden next, blundered 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Just Smudge (12-1) at Doncaster 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Mr Bond (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Behind, pushed along, not fluent 2nd, tailed off 4 out, 8th of 11, well behind Calusa Crystal (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Ballymorn (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Led until after 7th, weakened after next, 7th of 18, well behind Dover's Hill (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Ortega (FR) 13-2 (10-2) Chased leader until jumped slowly 8th, dropped to last when hit 12th, soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Rio Laine (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Oct.
Quondor Noire (FR) 12-1 (10-2) Prominent, hampered by loose horse and brought down 4th, in a race won by Thenameescapesme (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gf in Oct, 13 ran.
Sailor's Sovereign 50-1 (10-3) Always behind, 4th of 11, 40l behind Rash Moment (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Cartier Opera 9-2fav (10-0) Held up, ridden approaching 2 out, soon headway, one pace, 4th of 11, 8l behind Bennynthejets (11-11) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
