tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, left 2nd last, kept on
in touch, weakened 4 out, mistake last
held up, mistake 10th, headway to take 2nd soon after 15 lengths down and weakening when fell last
held up, mistake 5th, headway next, weakened 10th soon well behind
made all, clear 3 out, stumbled and pecked last, eased flat
mid-division, ridden 6th, mistake 9th and soon behind
held up, headway 10th, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, weakened next, badly hampered last
tracked leaders, weakened 7th
We like the look of Artipreuil in this handicap chase, with his biggest dangers reckoned to be Maletton and Haunted House. It could just be that Artipreuil is well weighted making his chasing debut and the Philip Hobbs-trained, lightly-raced five-year-old can prove the point here. Maletton comes here on a roll, and a seven-pounds penalty for his latest victory should not stop him from running well, although 12 stone 5 pounds to carry in this type of going will make things tricky. It is hard to quantify Alphabetical's Wincanton win in first-time cheekpieces as he bids to follow up under a seven-pounds penalty, but, much as it may have taken Haunted House a while to warm to his theme at Ludlow, he eventually ran out a good winner and should have better to come. Based on his spring form, Give Me Love would hold a good chance but more-recent efforts have lacked sparkle. Lucifer Bleu looked promising back in 2004 but he has not been seen since and the market might prove to be your best guide. Once again, though, we return to the selection, which is Artipreuil.
Maletton (FR) 5-2fav (11-3) Led to 4th, chased leader, led 15th, ridden 4 out, stayed on from last, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft beating Puntal (11-8) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Alphabetical (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) In touch, headway to lead l7th, quickened 3 out, jumped left 2 out, pushed clear flat, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec beating Englishtown (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Haunted House 11-4fav (11-12) Held up, jumped slowly 4th, detached 4 out, stayed on to lead last, kept on, won at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs beating Ishka Baha (10-13) by 6l, 6 ran.
Give Me Love (FR) 10-1 (10-3) In rear, headway to join leaders 6th, jumped right next, mistake 8th and lost place, tailed off when unseated rider 4 out in race won by Wain Mountain (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Lucifer Bleu (FR) 7-4fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, led approaching 12th, ridden and under pressure from 2 out, headed last, one pace flat, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Galileo (10-13) at Perth 3m nov chs (D) gf in Jun '04.
Jack's Lad (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Held up, mistake 3rd, no chance from 7th, tailed off when blundered last, 4th of 7, well behind Trouble At Bay (11-3) at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Artipreuil (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Led until 5th, led again 3 out, headed after 2 out, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 17, 7l behind Only For Sue (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Donovan (NZ) 7-1 (10-10) Chased leader, ridden after 10th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 8, 25l behind Fast Forward (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
