held up, headway 12th, chased leaders approaching 5 out, weakened from next, tailed off
held up, ridden, mistake 9th, struggling 5 out, tailed off
close up, chased winner from 5 out, ridden, no impression when hit 2 out
held up, 5th, pushed along, struggling approaching 5 out, tailed off
soon lost place, behind from 5th, ridden 8th, tailed off when pulled up 13th
made all, hit 5 out, clear before 2 out, eased flat
chased winner to 9th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
held up until fell 7th
held up, mistake, reminders 6th, ridden, hit 13th, struggling before next, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway to chase leading pair 4 out, one pace, no impression when hit 2 out
close up, chased winner 9th to 5 out, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
TOT OF THE KNAR has had more homes than a travelling hobo but she continues to run with credit and is more than capable of landing this prize for her connections, while both stable mate Hoo La Baloo and Coq Hardi warrant respect. The selection won at a shade of odds on for trainer Tim Vaughan in July but was then beaten by a stable companion so the owners took the mare to Paul Nicholls. She was a beaten favourite behind Toby Jug at Newton Abbot last time out but looks to have a nice racing weight to carry and with conditions in her favour she will take all the beating. Top weight Hoo La Baloo competed in plenty of the top staying handicap last season but failed to get his head in front. He has dropped to a potentially lenient mark and with his jockey able to claim a valuable seven pounds he does enter calculations. He is a good horse on his day so is worth noting. Coq Hardi won back to back races in the spring at Wincanton and Uttoxeter and although he has run well in defeat of late it does look as though the handicapper has him where he wants him for the time being. Tot Of The Knar has Ruby Walsh booked to ride off a light weight which should set alarm bells ringing.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 3-1fav (10-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 4 out, kept on approaching 2 out, 3rd of 17, 12l behind Backstage (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
Out The Black (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Held up in touch, pushed along 13th, blundered next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Backstage (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug, 17 ran.
Coq Hardi (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Held up, mistake 9th and 10th, headway 4 out, one pace, 4th of 17, 13l behind Backstage (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
Bowleaze (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden after 14th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 14, 33l behind Hennessy (10-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Seymar Lad (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, weakened after 11th, 11th of 17, dis behind Backstage (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
Beat The Boys (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Ran in snatches, not fluent 9th, well behind 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Russian Trigger (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
Back To Bid (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Prominent, 2nd approaching 4 out, soon lost place and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Arbor Supreme (9-10) at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp chs 0-105 gd in Apr '08, 24 ran.
The Real Deal (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Held up, ridden and hit 12th, driven and blundered 17th, well behind when hit 4 out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Jim Bobs Girl (10-5) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Otantique (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Raced wide in rear, blundered 7th, lost touch approaching 10th, mistake next, tailed off when pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Alfie's Sun (10-10) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jul, 9 ran.
Tot Of The Knar 6-4fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, led after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Toby Jug (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gf in Sep.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) In touch, blundered 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 15, 45l behind War Of The World (11-12) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sep.
