tracked leaders, in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
led, blundered 8th, headed next, hit 10th, hit 13th, lost place 5 out, soon ridden, took remote 3rd from 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 9th, chased winner from 13th, one pace when hit last
held up in rear, went prominent 10th, weakened from 4 out
with leader, led 9th, clear 2 out, stayed on well
Just the five runners to choose from here and it is hard to get away from recent Haydock winner Darina's Boy, who despite having gone up to a mark of 121, still looks the one to beat with Bubble Boy and Red Perk rated the main dangers. Bubble Boy has rather harshly been raised another 4lbs despite finishing second to Tribal Dancer at Huntingdon last time and could do with some help from the handicapper. Micky Hammond's Manbow has a good record here but has been pulled up in his last two starts and may be best watched now, while Time To Reflect is hard to recommend with great confidence on the balance of his form although Richard Guest's horses have generally been running better of late. Stablemate Red Perk receives plenty of weight all round and has to be considered but preference is for the progressive Darina's Boy, who gets the vote.
Darina's Boy 11-1 (11-0) Made all, driven out after last, won at Haydock 2m 6f nov chs (3) gs beating Bannister Lane (11-0) by 5l, 9 ran.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Prominent, led 10th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Tribal Dancer (9-11) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
Manbow (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Keen hold, held up in rear, ridden 12th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Yardbird (10-9) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
Time To Reflect (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression on first two, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Prince of Slane (9-9) at Sedgefield 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in May.
Red Perk (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Set slow pace, ridden after 2 out, driven out, won at Worcester 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf beating Kyno (12-5) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
