prominent, led 3rd to 7th, in touch until weakened 5 out, badly hampered 4 out
led, mistake 2nd, headed 3rd, led again 8th to 13th, weakened before next
held up, in touch 7th, left in lead 4 out, hit 3 out, headed flat
prominent to 7th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
held up in rear, headway 13th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
not jumped well in rear, bad mistake 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
prominent until weakened 12th
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
prominent, mistake 12th, soon weakened , tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, headway 11th, led after 13th, fell 15th
prominent, mistake 6th, ridden 10th, weakened after mistake 13th, pulled up before 5 out
held up mid-division, headway 12th, challenged 4 out, led flat, driven out
held up, headway 8th, ridden 5 out, soon weakened
behind and ridden along, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
always in rear, pulled up before 5 out
In a tricky event, Apple Joe gets the call ahead of Grumpy Stumpy, Billy Ballbreaker, General O'Keeffe and St Kilda. Up seven pounds for his Newbury win last December, Grumpy Stumpy is still respected, although his absence is a concern. Billy Ballbreaker and General O'Keeffe are types to do reasonably well in these types of events at around this level this season, while course and distance winner Solve It Sober is another for the shortlist, even though that victory came in a seller. A repeat of his form of December and January would bring Apple Joe into things and he is very much one to consider, as is St Kilda, despite a 13-pounds ratings rise for winning at Plumpton in March. Most of the others are out of the weights, although Master Brew would hold claims based on his April 2004 Worcester form. However, for to day, we will side with Apple Joe.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 6 out, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Waterlily (11-7) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs gd in May, 16 ran.
Grumpy Stumpy 3-1fav (11-5) Close up, mistake 8th, weakened before 15th, 4th of 11, 25l behind Robber (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Apr.
Billy Ballbreaker (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Keltic Lord (11-6) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Jul, 14 ran.
General O'Keeffe 4-1 (11-7) Mid-division, weakened after 8th and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Billy Ballbreaker (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) hvy in May, 11 ran.
Penalty Clause (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, hit 1st, headway 7th, in 2nd when mistake last, one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Seaniethesmuggler (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd.
Solve It Sober (IRE) 13-2 (9-13) Chased leaders to 8th, behind when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Blakeney Coast (11-0) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Jun, 9 ran.
Apple Joe 5-1co-fav (9-12) Held up, headway to track leaders from 9th, chased winner soon after 2 out, kept on run in, but no impression near finish, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Toulouse-Lautrec (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Jan.
Aisjem (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened from 5 out, tailed off, 16th of 20, well behind Glenbane Lady (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Dec.
St Kilda 11-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, led 6th, blundered 14th, rider lost iron next, in command soon after 2 out, ridden out, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd in Mar beating Hurricane Dipper (10-0) by 12l, 8 ran.
Freteval (FR) 5-1jt-fav (10-0) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 45l behind Atticus Finch (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Mar '04.
Lost Treasure (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Led at slow pace, headed 4th, chased leader until weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 8, 10l behind Lake Merced (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Sept.
Anflora 5-1jt-fav (10-3) Chased leader, led after 9th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Southerncrosspatch (10-9) at Worcester 3m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf.
Make It Easy (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) Prominent, lost place approaching 6th, headway 13th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 10, 12l behind Ashgreen (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gf.
Master Brew 25-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, mistake 6th, headway 11th, behind from 13th, 7th of 11, 33l behind Galtee View (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd.
Alabaster 40-1 (9-7) In touch, mistake 6th, lost place 14th, mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 16l behind Mill Bank (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs.
Rufius (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Held up, hampered 10th, effort 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 41l behind Ashgreen (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gf.
