held up last, ridden approaching 13th, left poor 3rd 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, mistake 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 13th
prominent, ridden in 4th 13th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden, headway to chase leader after 13th, joined leader approaching 3 out, led approaching last, hard ridden flat, held on to dead heat post
chased leader, ridden 13th, weakening in 5th place when fell 3 out
jumped slowly 1st, mid-division until niggled along 5th, kept on to go poor 3rd flat
held up in mid-division, 3rd, staying on when blundered badly, 3 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, lost touch 12th, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, chased leader 9th, ridden, weakened 4 out, badly hampered, pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, rallied from last, ran on well to dead heat line
This is a bit of a headscratcher, with Joe Deane getting a tentative vote ahead Barton Hill and Lanmire Tower. Just beaten here over two miles from a three-pounds higher mark in April, if he's in that sort of mood again, the selection should go well. Hi Fi has now dropped to a more reasonable mark and should strip fitter for his recent run, while a repeat of Joe Deane's course and distance second 12 months ago puts him in the mix. Sam Adamson is the only course winner in the line-up, and he has actually won over course and distance. However, the downside is that he has had only one run since 2003. Lanmire Tower's second at Lingfield last time from a slightly lower mark was a fair effort in the context of this race and he is respected, while the remainder race from out of the weights, although Renaloo is well-weighted on his 2003 form, but has only run once since that year and Heartache is entitled to build on his Exeter win in April. As we say, it's tricky, but the vote goes to Joe Deane.
Barton Hill 15-2 (11-1) Held up, headway 6th, hit next, never dangerous, 5th of 7, 12l behind Romany Dream (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Nov.
Hi Fi 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden 10th, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 9, 16l behind Supreme Tadgh (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Nov.
Joe Deane (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Led to 4th, mistake 11th and lost place, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 47l behind Black De Bessy (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Eggmount (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Prominent, led 6th until 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 10l behind Dangerousdanmagru (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in May.
Sam Adamson 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Lindsay (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-4) In touch, headway 8th, chased winner 4 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Lanmire Tower (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 4f amt hcp chs (F) sft in Nov.
Quizzling (IRE) 10-3fav (10-9) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place 7th, behind when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Beaugency (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Jul, 10 ran.
Renaloo (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Always well in rear, mistake 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Strawman (9-11) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd in Mar '04, 7 ran.
Heartache 18-1 (10-0) Led, headed 8th, led again 9th, headed and jumped right 10th, soon weakened, jumped right 3 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Idealko (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in May, 10 ran.
Taksina 5-2fav (10-0) In touch, brief effort after 11th, soon tailed off, 3rd of 8, well behind Sunday Habits (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (G) hvy in Nov.
