took keen hold, led after 2nd, blundered and unseated rider 5th
prominent until blundered and unseated rider 5th
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 12th, led before 3 out, clear approaching last, rider dropped whip flat, eased close home
mid-division, headway 7th, weakened 3 out
led until after 2nd, left in lead and hampered 5th, hampered by loose horse and headed next, lost place 12th, soon struggling
jumped left and bumped 1st, chased leaders, hampered 5th, lost place 7th, headway after 11th, lost place 13th, soon struggling
held up in rear, took keen hold, mid-division, blundered badly 5th, headway 12th, weakened approaching 3 out
in rear, steady headway 13th, one pace from 3 out
mid-division, hampered 5th, headway 10th, outpaced 13th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
not much room and mistake 1st, towards rear, well behind 10th, tailed off
mid-division, headway when hampered 5th, jumped left 8th, every chance 3 out, weakened flat
took keen hold, mistake 1st, towards rear, headway 7th, weakened approaching 14th, mistake next
in touch, bumped 1st, hampered 5th, led 6th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, lost place after 9th, soon behind
mid-division on outside, mistakes 7th and next, headway 13th, blundered 2 out, stayed on well flat
BACKFROMTHECONGO is the tentative pick in an open race where Dune Raider and Noble Future are amongst those that have to be considered. Richard Lee's gelding has proved a disappointment under Rules thus far having failed to score in fifteen attempts over fences but he's regularly gone close for this yard, including over course and distance, and it looks significant that they've engaged the services of Giles Hawkins who was aboard Noble Bily last time. Dune Raider ran a blinder at Uttoxeter on ground that would have been softer than ideal and is a live player on that evidence whilst Noble Future is unexposed over fences and hails from a yard that has to be feared here. Ash High has had just the three starts over hurdles and the winning Irish pointer may well attract support as he starts his handicap career from a lowly perch. Shali San is another jumping a fence for the first time in public whilst there are plenty of experienced campaigners, such as Carrickmines, that could get involved but we'll side with Backfromthecongo.
Minella For Food (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Always in rear, struggling 4, tailed off and pulled up before next, in a race won by Money Order (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Dune Raider (USA) 12-1 (10-7) Prominent, chased winner from 13th, every chance 3 out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, hd behind Midnight Haze (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Carrickmines (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up, good headway approaching 8th, challenged and hit 3 out, no extra approaching last, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Omix D'or (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Maori Legend 9-2fav (10-3) Chased leaders, mistake 2 out, hit last, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Wizard of Edge (10-4) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Ash High (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chased winner to 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 12, 34l behind Will Be Done (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
River Ripples (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, led 6th, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 15, 12l behind Hassadin (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f sell (5) gs.
Shali San (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, raced wide, headway after 5th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 15l behind Lord Singer (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Noble Bily (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Held up and keen, headway and mistake 10th, left poor 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 21l behind Ray Mond (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) sft.
Backfromthecongo (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 4 out, still every chance 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Morning Moment (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gf in Dec.
Alcatras (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden 15th, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 16, 39l behind Marked Man (11-4) at Hereford 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Noble Future 14-1 (11-4) Held up, mid-division, hard driven and headway before 3 out, went 2nd after last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Quel Bruere (11-12) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Outside Investor (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Tracked winner, mistake 11th, weakened next, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Midnight Haze (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy, 8 ran.
Heezagrey (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) In touch, lost place 6th, rear after, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Caspar Of Tarsus (11-6) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs, 15 ran.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) In rear, not fluent 9th, always behind, 7th of 12, 25l behind Woodlands Genpower (11-8) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
One More Dinar 100-1 (10-5) Held up, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Horsford (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
