held up, ridden, outpaced 4 out, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous
held up, unseated rider 5th
chased leader to 4th, ridden 10th, lost place next
held up, jumped slowly 10th, never troubled leaders
blundered and fell 3rd
led, jumped slowly, headed 8th, ridden and every chance, when jumped left 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up, improved 8th, ridden, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader to 4th, led 8th, ridden out
Direct Flight, Wicked Nice Fella and Party Games catch the eye here and Direct Flight is taken to dominate his rivals here. A winner at Fakenham on his debut, Wicked Nice Fella just failed to get up at Market Rasen last time. He is having his first run for a year but he is respected on his fencing bow. Party Games was a prolific hurdler last term, scoring at Plumpton, Wincanton and Huntingdon but fell on his chasing bow a couple of weeks ago at Cheltenham and may need a confidence boosting clear round before he can be considered for backing purposes. After scoring first time out at Kelso, Direct Flight scored next time out at Fontwell before running respectably at Cheltenham. He disappointed at Fontwell on New Year¿s Day and hasn¿t been seen out since. However, he comes from the Noel Chance yard whose horses have been running well without winning, and he is taken to score first time out for the second successive year. Direct Flight is taken to lead them home.
Bell Lane Lad (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 10th, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Lantaur Lad (10-12) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Direct Flight (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 25l behind Just Kate (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Jan.
King Georges (FR) 6-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden after 8th, soon weakened, pulled up from 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Doof (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Le Royal (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Held up, always behind, 9th of 11, 37l behind Mister Arjay (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Oct.
Misty Dancer 4-1 (10-5) Mid-division, mistake 4th, lost place 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Border Tale (10-1) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in May, 10 ran.
Party Games (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up, blundered 10th, headway, held in 4th place when fell 2 out in race won by Nazimabad (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Wenceslas (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, in touch until mistake and weakened 7th, 11th of 12, well behind Prins Willem (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (B) gd in Apr.
Wicked Nice Fella (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) With leaders, led 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, soon under pressure, hard ridden flat, caught post, 2nd of 6, shd behind Golden Odyssey (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Oct '04.
