tracked leaders, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, continued tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in rear, headway 3 out, driven and one pace from next
prominent, hit 3rd, weakening when blundered badly 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
held up, headway 3 out, in touch when fell 2 out
mid-division, headway 3 out, driven to lead final 100 yards
held up, ridden 3 out, beaten when fell last
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up and keen, headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, driven and headed, no extra close home
led, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last, one pace soon after
prominent, ridden and lost place quickly 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear
held up, headway 3 out, hampered next, one pace after
tracked leaders when blundered and unseated rider 4th
KNOCKAVILLA looks a promising type and has our confidence to get back to winning ways ahead of Faversham and Bedizen. The selection was winner at both bumper and point to point level before scoring easily on his hurdles debut over course and distance three starts ago. He fell on his handicap debut, which was his penultimate outing, but returned looking ready to score again last time when third of nine at Aintree. He may have even won that race had he not jumped well right two from home and with the gelding wide open to improvement he looks the one to beat. Faversham, a winner three starts ago, could be a danger if he can over come a career high rating. That mark is nine pounds heavier than the one he last carried to victory and he has run with credit, with limited success off a slightly lower rating so he could need a reprieve before scoring again. Bedizen has been nothing if not consistent but is now under a burden 20lbs heavier than his last victory, which could put pay to his chances. Mad Professor may be a decent each-way play judged on recent runs but to win it Knockavilla has the capacity for further improvement.
Knockavilla (IRE) 11-4fav (10-2) Tracked leader, led 7th, jumped left 2 out, headed between last 2, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Serabad (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Coconut Beach 16-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, driven and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Heavenly Chorus (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Greenbelt 14-1 (10-5) Led, hit 4 out, soon headed, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 44l behind Charlie Crab (11-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft.
Habanero 11-10fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Edas (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Aug '07.
Toss The Caber (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 1st, chased leader approaching 2 out, faded after last, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Nevsky Bridge (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Sendali (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, chased leaders approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Burnt Oak (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Bedizen 10-1 (11-5) In touch and keen, lost place 4 out, headway to chase leaders 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind King Gabriel (10-5) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Mad Professor (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd going well before 2 out, led last, ridden, headed flat, regained lead final 75 yards, headed post, 2nd of 8, shd behind Sandy's Legend (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Faversham 13-2 (11-5) Chased leader, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, not quicken from last, 3rd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Three Thieves (11-2) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Blast The Past 11-4jt-fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 1st, ridden and hung left after last, headed last 50 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Nevsky Bridge (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Halfway Cut 40-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2, 5th of 7, 13l behind Procas de Thaix (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov '07.
Crystal Prince 10-1 (11-12) Led until 5th, hit next, soon weakened, 8th of 13, well behind Circus Rose (11-2) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Helvetio 7-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 8th, soon reminded after, weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by In Dream's (11-7) at Cartmel 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May '07, 7 ran.
Ardesia (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 6th, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 16, 35l behind Lawgiver (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Springvic (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway and in touch approaching 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 33l behind Prosecco (11-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Nothingtodeclaire 16-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden 5th, kept on from 2 out, never able to challenge, 8th of 15, 8l behind Mischief Man (10-7) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Royal Flynn 9-2 (10-10) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 3rd, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 12l behind Nevsky Bridge (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
