chased leader, hampered 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, no extra
led 1st, soon clear, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
held up and mid-division, brought down 3 out
held up last, headway after 3 out, challenged after 2 out, ridden and every chance last, not pace of winner
held up and mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, led flat, ran on
prominent when fell 3 out
mid-division when brought down 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up in touch, hampered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, 2nd and going well when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
held up and mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up last, ridden behind leaders approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
led to 1st, chased leader, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
In this contest Monticelli looks to hold a very good chance, with Ma Furie, Dominican Monk and Island Stream coming out best of the others. If you tie in overlapping formlines using Dominican Monk, Island Stream, Ma Furie, Avas Delight, Monticelli and Man From Highworth along with Berengario, Atahuelpa and King Eider, then Monticelli looks to hold an outstanding chance. The main reason for this is that he got to within four lengths of Atahuelpa at Windsor last time, form enough to give him a very good chance here, and he was also probably not suited by the slow pace of that contest. As such, we reckon he's the one to beat today. Ma Furie is another that looks to hold decent claims. She caught the eye behind Berengario at Huntingdon when fitted with a tongue tie for the first time and Timmy Murphy should suit her running style. Dominican Monk ran well behind Atahuelpa in a Bangor novices' hurdle in August and, if taken literally, that form affords him claims too. Island Stream , who looks better weighted over hurdles than fences, could sneak a place and Barren Lands holds a chance if getting back to the level of form that saw him score from a higher mark at Aintree in May 2002. However, as we say, to our way of thinking, Monticelli could be well handicapped and we are happy to make him the choice.
