never travelling in rear, tailed off
chased winner from 2nd, ridden after 5 out, kept on from next, always being held
jumped slightly right, set good gallop, made all, always in command from 5 out, ran on strongly
pulled up, chased leaders, hit 2nd, gradually lost place, behind 6th, hampered next, pulled up after 11th
always towards rear
badly hampered 1st, behind, headway from 6th, went 3rd 9th until 5 out, kept on same pace, regained 3rd run in
jumped right first, mid-division, ridden approaching 5 out, soon weakened
chased leaders until 9th, weakened 4 out
chasing leaders, when fell heavily 7th
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden approaching 5 out, stayed on same pace, went 4th final strides
fell 2nd
mid-division, headway after 5th, went 3rd five out, soon ridden, beaten when not fluent 2 out, weakened last
PRESENTING COPPER still looks to be fairly treated and gets the vote here over Rustarix, Herecomesthetruth and Golden Feather. Philip Hobbs' mare was a course and distance winner last time out, disposing of the fairly decent Ardaghey in the process. She has a 7lb rise in the weights to contend with but with the ground no problem, relatively few miles on the clock, and a willing attitude, she looks worth backing. Golden Feather was in good form in the Summer and has claims here, although the suspicion is that the handicapper may now have a stranglehold, so of more interest may be Herecomesthetruth. Paul Nicholls' gelding ran out at Cheltenham the time before last but then put that run right with a good win at Taunton. That form looks solid and he is to be respected despite stepping out of Novice company. Saintaire has stamina to prove and is not the force of old, Mister Quasimodo has his quirks and tries the cheek-pieces today, whilst Warpath represents a canny yard and is one to watch in the betting. Probably not a race to get too heavily involved in, but preference is for Presenting Copper.
Mister Quasimodo 28-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out, 10th of 16, well behind Possol (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Presenting Copper (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Led 2nd, ridden clear from last, comfortably, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy beating Ardaghey (11-10) by 6l, 5 ran.
Herecomesthetruth (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on, drifted right flat, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft beating Pressgang (11-0) by 2l, 5 ran.
Warpath (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) With leader until weakened after 8th, 11th of 12, well behind Hills Of Aran (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Moncadou (FR) 5-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten, 14th of 23, 20l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar '07.
Rustarix (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Raced in 3rd, tracked leader 9th, narrow lead and hit 3 out, joined last, narrowly headed soon after, rallied gamely to regain lead last stride, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Creinch (11-3) by a shd, 10 ran.
Randwick Roar (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Blundered badly 5th, always towards rear, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Classic Fiddle (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Arumun (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 11, 38l behind Petit Robin (11-3) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Loulou Nivernais (FR) 66-1 (11-9) With leader, led 9th to 13th, soon lost place, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Alright Now M'Lad (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Down The Stretch 25-1 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd after 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 12l behind Nemetan (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Golden Feather 15-8fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from 2 out, 6th of 13, 5l behind Equilibria (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Which Pocket (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Saunders Road (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 16 ran.
Le Toscan (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in 4th, mistake 14th, lost touch approaching 4 out, tailed off when fell 2 out in race won by Ornais (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m Grad Ch (2) sft in Nov, 4 ran.