in touch, chased leaders 5 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 10th, headway 3 out, blundered badly next, kept on, never on terms
held up in touch, hampered 1st, ridden and weakened 13th
held up mid-division, weakened 3 out
prominent, early, in touch at halfway, chased leaders 14th, led 3 out, soon clear, ran on well
in touch, joined leader 5th, effort 3 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, never dangerous
behind, not fluent 9th, never dangerous
mid-division, behind when pulled up 4 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up 14th
held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out
prominent when blundered and unseated rider 1st
led, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 1st
held up towards rear, blundered 1st, rider lost iron briefly, headway to chase leaders after 3rd, ridden 3 out, chased winner next, kept on same pace
Mr Ironman makes plenty of appeal in this handicap chase and he is nominated over Comber and Blunham Hill. The selection slipped on landing last time out at Wincanton so that run can be forgiven, and he had previously hacked up over this course and distance. His yard are in good form and if he handles this ground he will be hard to beat. Comber has only had the two runs over fences but he was a little disappointing last time and he will need to improve on that effort to make his mark here today. Blunham Hill has not been the same horse this year and although he will love the ground, he is hard to back with any confidence at present. Captain Aubrey may need the run on his seasonal return. All of which returns us to Mr Ironman who can prove too strong for his rivals.
Bergerac (NZ) 7-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway 4 out to track leaders, ridden 2 out, not quicken, 4th of 7, 7l behind Kids Inheritance (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec '05.
Comber (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Behind, headway approaching 9th, ridden after 10th, went 3rd after 3 out, no further impression, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Mighty Moose (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened from last, 4th of 5, 25l behind Monteforte (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Gumley Gale 15-2 (10-1) Always towards rear, 7th of 9, 21l behind Special Conquest (9-11) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Captain Aubrey (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up, keen, ridden, headway 11th, stayed on chase leaders from 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 10l behind Forest Miller (11-4) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in May.
Mr Ironman 2-1fav (10-9) Chased leader, ridden 15th, 2nd and held when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next pulled up 3 out in race won by Boytjie (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Iloveturtle (IRE) 22-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 10th, behind when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Read All About It (11-1) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Casalani (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 5th, stayed on from 3 out, not reach leaders, 3rd of 13, 13l behind Arnold Layne (11-6) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Tallow Bay (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) In touch, jumped slow and driven 9th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Tommy Carson (11-0) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Lets Go Dutch 10-1 (11-2) Pushed along 9th, well behind from 14th, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Dun Drinan (11-5) at Warwick 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
River of Light (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, reminders 14th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 14, 50l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Dads Lad (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Mistake 1st, prominent until driven along and lost place 12th, rallied approaching 2 out, staying on when ran out at the last in race won by Strolling Vagabond (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Woodview (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Jumped right 1st, mid-division, behind when fell 5 out in race won by Gumley Gale (11-8) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Celtic Society (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) Towards rear, ridden 13th, chased leaders 4 out, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Ilongue (10-0) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Chased winner, ridden, lost place 8th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Willyanwoody (11-4) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (3) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
