held up in rear, hit 5th, brief effort 10th, soon weakened and well behind from 13th
soon tracked winner, jumped slowly 3rd, hit 5th, lost 2nd 11th, weakened under pressure before 4 out
behind when mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up, headway 11th, challenged next, chased winner before 3 out, no impression and well held before last
blundered 1st, chased leaders, weakening into mid-division when unseated rider 12th
led to 2nd, prominent until lost place 6th, dropped rear 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
mistake 1st, held up in rear, blundered 3rd, headway to chase winner 11th to before 3 out, weakened next
held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders from 12th, chased winner 4 out to next, weakened 2 out
held up well in rear, stayed on until 4 out, not reach leaders
jumped well, led 2nd, made rest, in command before last, stayed on strongly
behind when blundered and fell 6th
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, weakened and behind from 11th
chased leaders, ridden along 8th, behind from 10th, tailed off
Nonrunner
Florida Dream, Dedrunknmunky, Strong Flow, Bunkum and Rudolf Rassendyll all get mentions but the vote goes to Thausse de Thaix. Raised just four pounds for a facile win in a four-runner Fontwell chase last time, connections reckon that Thausse de Thaix still has plenty of improvement to come. As such, we will stick with him today. Florida Dream might have needed his latest run, his chasing debut, but Florida Pearl's brother has the scope to do well over fences and rates as an interesting prospect. Dedrunknmunky improved for new connections to win a novice event last time and should appreciate today's extra distance, so is respected also, along with Strong Flow, who is just a pound above a winning mark. Rudolf Rassendyll still looks reasonably weighted based on his Carlisle win in 2004, while Bunkum is well-weighted on old form and ran well for a long way on his seasonal return over a shorter trip last time. The handicapper has Kittenkat and Jaoka du Gord about right, we reckon, while Myson needs improvement. Waterberg is another to be well-weighted on 2003 form but has lacked recent sparkle which, in turn, returns us to the selection, which is Thausse de Thaix.
Charlies Future 14-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 10th, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on again from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Saffron Sun (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs.
Florida Dream (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (10-12) Prominent and keen, mistakes, weakened 5 out, 6th of 10, well behind State of Play (10-10) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (D) gs in Oct.
Harry Collins 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, in touch when fell 5 out in race won by Master d'Or (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Rudolf Rassendyll (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Blundered 1st, not jump well, blundered again 9th, lost touch and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Red Devil Robert (11-12) at Stratford 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Bunkum 6-1 (10-13) Held up, headway after 6th, every chance after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Major Euro (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Kittenkat 8-1 (10-5) Always chasing leaders, ridden 16th and chased winner, staying on one pace, in 2nd when mistake and unseated rider last unseated rider at the last in race won by Bunratty Castle (11-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Jaoka du Gord (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Held up, headway to lead 12th to 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Stormy Skye (10-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Myson (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Raced keenly, in touch, hard ridden 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Master d'Or (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Oct.
Waterberg (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Not always fluent, held up, headway approaching 6th, no extra from last, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Bob Ar Aghaidh (11-12) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Oct.
Kausse de Thaix (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Held up in close 4th, went 2nd after 9th, left well clear 15th, unchallenged after, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft beating Commanche Jim (11-11) by 20l, 4 ran.
Unusual Suspect 50-1 (11-7) Behind, ridden when stumbled badly 9th, soon tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Copsale Lad (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd in Oct.
Strong Magic (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 15th, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Mini Dare (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
It's Rumoured 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 3rd to 14th, led again 3 out, blundered and headed 2 out, weakened, 5th of 9, 13l behind Up The Pub (10-5) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy.
Dedrunknmunky (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led until 4 out, soon ridden, rallied to go 2nd 2 out, led soon after last, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 4f mrs nov chs (E) sft beating Reseda (10-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
