chased leaders, slightly lost place 9th, pushed along after 5 out, rallied to chase leading pair before 4 out, stayed on to 2nd soon after 2 out, no chance with winner
in touch, chased leaders 4th, went 2nd 7th, led 12th, headed before 4 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, led 4th until after next, chased leader until 7th, driven and lost place before 10th, tailed off when blundered stumbled badly and pulled up after 5 out
chased leaders, not fluent 11th and lost place, blundered and pecked badly 13th, weakened after 5 out, tailed off
led 1st until 4th chased leader until led again after 5th, headed 12th, lost 2nd at 13th, ridden in 5th after 5 out, one pace from next
led until 1st, chased leader until lost place and behind 5th, unseated rider next
held up and raced wide, pushed along and headway 10th, chased leaders 5 out, went 2nd before next, led approaching 3 out, clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly
in rear, plugged on to modest 5th 2 out, never on terms
always behind, never involved
Sparkling Tara has been knocking on the door but is still a maiden over fences, though appears to have the beating of Eyre Apparent on recent Hexham running. Be My Deputy was second over this trip at Newcastle last week but that merit of that form is questionable while Roi De Garde may just be a fraction high in the weights at present, though did have Acrai Rua behind when runner-up at Market Rasen in August. QUETZAL came on in leaps and bounds last winter and has gone well fresh in the past. Martin Todhunter's charge can start off the new campaign with another victory, though Our Jim would also be interesting if attracting market support and is preferred to the erratic Overyou.
Eyre Apparent (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 3 out, headed 3 out, ridden and outpaced before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Tipsy Dara (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
Quetzal (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 7th, blundered 12th, pressed from 2 out, kept on gamely, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jan beating Amroth Bay (10-13) by nk, 9 ran.
Our Jim 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, hard ridden over 6f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Sapphire Rouge (10-13) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun '11.
Sparkling Tara 8-1 (11-7) With leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, kept on flat, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Tipsy Dara (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
Acrai Rua (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) In rear, blundered 9th, jumped slowly and behind 11th, pulled up after, in a race won by Hunters Lodge (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct, 17 ran.
Overyou 18-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, lost place before 16th, tailed off and pulled up before last, in a race won by Night In Milan (10-12) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May, 10 ran.
Be My Deputy (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up behind, headway and in touch 6th, went 2nd 12th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Bob Will (9-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
Roi De Garde (FR) 14-1 (11-1) In touch on outside, outpaced when mistake 13th, soon soon lost place, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 16, 14l behind Royale Knight (11-4) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, hit 5th, in 2nd place when fell 10th, in a race won by Cilliseal (11-5) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Oct, 5 ran.
Cash In Hand (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Held up, closed 2nd, outpaced from 11th, 4th of 7, 16l behind Kilcascan (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Oct.
