chased leaders, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 11th, behind when pulled up before last
prominent, hit 10th, struggling when mistake 13th, one pace from 3 out
soon behind, tailed off from 5th
held up, headway 8th, weakened 11th
held up, hit 8th, well behind from next, tailed off
in touch, pushed along from 12th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led to 4th, chased winner, hit 5th, ridden after 13th, no impression from 4 out, lost 2nd flat
mid-division, ridden after 10th, never on terms
held up, some headway when fell 12th
prominent, led after 4th, clear 4 out, easily
ridden 9th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
It normally pays to stay with the obvious in hunter chases, and so Alpha Romana and Sol Music have leading claims, with the latter preferred, while Silent Keys should be noted on his British debut. Sol Music had Alpha Romana 29-lengths behind when scoring at Uttoxeter last May on his last outing over regulation fences. That was over two miles but he does get today's trip and seems better suited going right-handed so should go well for Les Jefford. Alpha Romana made up for his defeat by winning at Hexham next time under an enterprising ride from today's pilot Paul Cowley, and similar tactics may be employed here. Silent Keys has twice won the Swedish Grand National and has come over to try and qualify for the Foxhunters' at Aintree in April. He has been given a long time to recover since falling into the water jump at Hamburg in July and no doubt the plan will be to get round in one piece under David Dunsden. Guignol du Cochet ran really well on his hunter-chase debut at Haydock recently, only tiring in the straight, and should be able to pick up a modest race in this sphere at least. However, if Val Graham has Sol Music fully tuned up, he will take all the beating with conditions in his favour.
