mid-division, headway 4th, led and hit 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace
jumped left, led to 3 out, weakened before next
held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened quickly
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, mistake 3rd, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
in touch, blundered 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when fell 2 out
mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, every chance approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
held up, ridden after 2 out, never trouble leaders
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, led 2 out, clear after last, easily
mid-division, headway after 5th, weakened 3 out
in touch to 5th, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 5th, soon weakened
There are a host of possible improvers here, but Acambo is taken to defy another penalty to score, with Nikola, Straw Bear and Back Among Friends just a few more to mention. The Martin Pipe stable is slowly but surely emerging from the doldrums, and you can be sure that there will be a stack of winners over the next few weeks. One that has not been afflicted by the malaise though is Acambo whose record reads two out of two since moving to Pond House. The ex-German Flat horse put paid to the favourite Spanish Don on his British debut at Taunton in November, picking up well from the rear to come out on top, and proved that was no fluke when following up at Windsor in December. The well regarded Paul Nicholls inmate Desert Quest was back in third that day so the form looks pretty solid, and as that latest victory was gained on rain-softened ground, he should handle today's conditions. As mentioned earlier, there are quite a few who can be noted for future reference, such as Straw Bear, a Flat winner on heavy ground at Haydock for Sir Mark Prescott and now with Nick Gifford. Nikola was successful twice on the level in France and comes from a chasing family, so his progress should be monitored, but a bigger danger today might just be Back Among Friends who got no further than the first on his hurdles bow at Newbury. A fair bumper performer, he hails from a stable going well at present. All in all though, it will be disappointing if Acambo cannot keep his unbeaten record on these shores intact.
Acambo (GER) 15-2 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching last, ran on, won at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec beating Chief Yeoman (11-12) by 2l, 15 ran.
Another Chat (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led, ridden when headed over 6f, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 30l behind Senora Snoopy (10-11) at Towcester 2m nhf (H) gs in Dec.
Back Among Friends 14-1 (11-2) fell in race won by Craven (11-2) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec, 25 ran.
Beluga (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led to 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Hoh Viss (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Ben Belleshot 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, tailed off from 6th, 11th of 14, well behind Kaldouas (11-0) at Windsor 2m 4f nh mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Caveman 25-1 (10-12) Led until ridden and headed 3 out, 7th of 12, 32l behind Harrycone Lewis (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Chisel 100-1 (10-5) Always behind, struggling when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Nine De Sivola (11-3) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd, 10 ran.
Cordial (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden 5f out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 39l behind Toldo (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct (Flat).
Devolution (IRE) 125-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, mistake 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Circassian (11-0) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Ermine Grey 14-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Charlie Kennet (8-13) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jul (Flat).
Financial Future 100-1 (10-12) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Be Be King (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Gran Dana (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leading pair to 7th, weakened next, 4th of 6, well behind Magnifico (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Nemetan (FR) (10-1) 2nd of 13 btn 7l by Natan (10-1) at Machecoul 1m3f gd in non-thoroughbred Race in Sept.
Nikola (FR) Twice in a winner on the Flat in the French Provinces, latest start, (10-8) 5th of 8, 8l behind Noisillette (9-10) at Moulins 1m 4f stk in Oct (Flat).
Patrixtoo (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Keen early, tracked leaders, lost place 5th, behind when hit last, 8th of 14, 39l behind Percussionist (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Return Ticket 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 17, 24l behind Pepporoni Pete (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Straw Bear (USA) 4-6fav (9-7) Prominent, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Honorine (8-13) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (D2) gf in Sept '04 (Flat).
Street Life (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, pushed along after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Natal (11-8) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
Wee Anthony (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Behind, some headway 7th, soon ridden, no further impression, 6th of 18, 26l behind Dare Too Dream (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Assumptalina 20-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 28l behind Arumun (10-11) at Haydock 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar.
Dafarabad (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, 4th of 9, 16l behind Ortolan Bleu (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft in Dec.
Royal Sailor (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, ridden and some headway over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 7th of 11, 4l behind Kinsman (8-9) at Lingfield 1m stk (7) pol in Dec (Flat).
