held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, left in 2nd and slightly hampered 2 out, stayed on, not reach winner
in touch, tracked leader 4th, ridden to challenge 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rer, headway 4 out, soon chasing winner, fell 2 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
made all, shaken up after 3 out, ridden clear next, kept on under pressure
with leader, slow 2nd, soon in touch, chasing leaders when fell 3rd last
chased leaders, hampered 3rd, slow 13th, weakened 16th, behind when pulled up 2 out
prominent, unseated rider 3rd
Obaki De Grissay is preferred to Mandingo Chief and Sir Laughalot. The selection has yet to win a race but he made a pleasing start to his chasing career when running second at Uttoxeter in December. He has the scope for this game and won't need to make too much improvement to feature prominently. Sir Laughalot also has just the one chase start to his name and he certainly looked as though he'd go on to win races following his second here in October. He's been absent since but of greater concern is his ability to handle this ground. Mandingo Chief has never won on ground worse than good to soft but has been placed under testing conditions and he has developed into a consistent performer over fences. He should be in the firing line once again whilst Jonny's Kick is well worth a second look but Obaki De Grissay earns the vote.
Pass Me By 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden 13th, tried to refuse 15th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Ironside (10-0) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 11 ran.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed after last, stayed on under pressure, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Basic Fact (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Sir Laughalot 10-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, mistake 9th, improved to go 3rd 4 out, chased winner last, ridden and unable to quicken flat, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Highland Chief (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Obaki de Grissay (FR) 4-1 (11-8) In touch, not fluent 12th, led 3 out, hung right under pressure approaching last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Kathleens Pride (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Jonny's Kick 9-2 (10-12) Prominent, led 8th to 11th, led again after 13th, driven out, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun '06 beating Would You Believe (11-12) by 11l, 9 ran.
Alcatras (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led after 10th, headed after 4 out, soon ridden, rallied flat, led near finish, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec beating Maximinus (10-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Nelson (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, mistake 10th, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Leading Authority (11-7) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Georges Boy (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Led, soon clear, hit 4 out, ridden and headed next, no extra, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Shardakhan (11-11) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
