made all, clear when mistake 2 out, unchallenged
prominent and keen, mistake 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened after next
in touch, chased winner approaching 8th, weakened after 2 out
in touch, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when mistake last
always towards rear
prominent, pushed along after 6th, weakening when hit 7th
took keen hold in rear, jinked left anf unseated rider 3rd
held up and keen, headway after 6th, outpaced 3 out, kept on flat
L'Eau du Nil has shown ability since joining the yard of Phillip Hobbs but the five-year-old is proving to be expensive to follow and preference is for Absolutelythebest who had been similarly disappointing until winning at Market Rasen when last seen and he is taken to follow up at the main expense of Navy Lark. The selection is not well named but he won that race with something in hand and has the assistance of the returning Tony McCoy again and that may just make the difference. The Ian Williams-trained Arch Folly stayed two miles on the flat and may want further over hurdles to show his best form, while another flat recruit Dawn At Sea may also be best watched on his first start over hurdles. David Pipe's Navy Lark was well held on his only start in a bumper and may be open to improvement but is hard to back on the evidence of that one outing and a safer bet looks to be Absolutelythebest, who is taken to give Tony McCoy the perfect return following his absence through injury.
Absolutelythebest (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) Led to approaching 2nd, led again 4th, clear when hit 2 out, all out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jul beating Rust En Vrede (10-4) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on flat, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Able King (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) In touch, headway 9th, weakened when mistake 2 out, no chance when blundered last, 6th of 8, 44l behind Barton Flower (11-1) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Arch Folly 40-1 (8-13) Mid-division, lost place 9f out, soon behind, 9th of 10, well behind Behlaya (9-12) at Warwick 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gd (Flat).
Loitokitok 50-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, some headway 4th, hampered next, weakened after 6th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Toss The Caber (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gf in Sept '05, 12 ran.
Navy Lark 25-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, lost place over 5f out, no danger after, 8th of 11, 13l behind Wichita Lineman (11-4) at Newbury 2m nhf (6) gf in Mar.
The Sneakster (IRE) 28-1 (10-2) Prominent and keen, led 1st, blundered 7th, headed 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 10, 49l behind Bob Mountain (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd.
Dawn At Sea 11-10fav (8-12) Slowly away, headway to track leader after 2f, led on bit 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Picot de Say (8-3) at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo clm (6) gd in Sept '05 (Flat).
