held up, weakened from 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, pushed along after half way, no impression from 3 out
held up, chased leaders halfway, one pace from 3 out
soon tracking leader, led from 10th, stayed on well from 2 out
tracked leaders, one pace from 3 out
prominent, ridden after 5 out, kept on 3 out
held up, struggling from 12th, behind when ran out last
led to 10th, one pace from 3 out
held up in rear, kept on approaching 2 out, never on terms
Bleu Pois should appreciate the step back up in trip but we're more interested in MR STRACHAN whilst The Whisperer will also have his supporters. The market may be the best guide to the chances of Mr Strachan who has been lightly raced in recent years but he's only eight years of age and is very well handicapped on his old form. There must be some doubt as to whether he can still attain those heights but it may be a chance worth taking. Bleu Pois isn't the quickest and should benefit from being stepped back up in trip and isn't too exposed over fences but he doesn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary. The Whisperer is another that hasn't had an awful lot of racing but he, too, has talent and has always been held in high regard by his handler. He has plenty to prove to live up to that billing but doesn't have many miles on the clock. Zitenka may have more to offer this season whilst Description should make a chaser having made the most of a lowly rating over hurdles but we're going to take a chance with the latter's stablemate, Mr Strachan.
Zitenka (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, held on gamely final 75 yards, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Just For Men (10-9) by ns, 9 ran.
Mr Strachan (IRE) 10-3fav (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along 7th, reminders approaching 12th, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 9, 21l behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
The Whisperer (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 13th, effort 3 out, kept on one pace from next, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Antonius Caesar (11-5) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Description (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd between last 2, no impression with 1st 2, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Noble Alan (11-3) at Hexham 2m beg chs (5) gd.
Soubriquet (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Prominent, chased winner approaching 4 out until weakened last, last of 8, 12l behind Some Touch (11-6) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) In touch when jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, soon pushed along, lost place, headway 10th, chased winner approaching 13th to 14th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 26l behind Sandhurst (11-12) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jul.
Bleu Pois (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Held up, chased leaders 11th, went 2nd last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2l behind La Pantera Rosa (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Nile Moon (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed after last, kept on same pace under pressure flat, 5th of 7, 5l behind Snowy (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Kalmo Bay (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Always behind, 8th of 9, 44l behind All Rise (9-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
