chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon clear
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
prominent and raced keen, mistake 3rd, ridden and weakened 5th
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
behind from 5th
unseated rider 1st
held up, behind from 4th
held up, headway after 3 out, chased winner approaching next, one pace
held up, headway approaching 2 out, no impression
mid-division, weakened 5th
prominent, chased leader 4th, weakened after 3 out
chased leader to 4th, weakened from 3 out
prominent, mistake 5th, weakened after 3 out
always behind
held up pushed along 3rd, struggling from 5th
A fair seller to start proceedings and from a shortlist that includes Three Ships, Goodnight Dick and Papillon De Iena, we side with the last named. The ex-Paul Nicholls charge is useful enough at this level and dictated the pace to score at Uttoxeter. The worry is that achieving an uncontested lead won't be so easy here but this is his grade and conditions very much suit. Three Ships won an awful seller at Taunton on firm ground. Once rated in three figures, he is back to a winable mark and the trainer's record of placing his horses to their best effect is beyond question. Goodnight Dick caught the eye at Ludlow last time out. The ex-Irish performer was probably given too much to do in the final analysis and this did represent a big step up on what we had seen previously. Hardybuck is a very interesting participant. The perennial front-runner over further trips, he doesn't win often but this drop in trip might just work in his favour. Batchworth Beau reverts to hurdles after a couple of runs over fences. Matinee Idol has at least threatened to win a race and could be capable of staying on into the places having been held up from off the pace. Lindseyfield Lodge hails from a yard not noted for too many National Hunt winners and could be given a chance if showing anything like the form of his recent fifth in a recent Sedgefield handicap. Rojabaa is entirely capable of landing races of this nature although his recent form has been little to write home about. The market should tell us plenty on the day and Papillon De Iena is our selection without immediate reference to it.
Three Ships 11-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, led after 4th until 3 out, led again next, kept on well, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) frm in Nov beating Kyathos (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Papillon de Iena (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed after 2 out, rallied to lead against last, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Nov beating Monroe Gold (10-9) by 2l, 10 ran.
Goodnight Dick (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, soon held, 6th of 14, 5l behind Fantasy Legend (10-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gs.
Wildbach (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Behind, ridden and struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Iwillrememberyou (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Rojabaa 20-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 13, 19l behind Breaking Shadow (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Lindseyfield Lodge (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Keen early, held up mid-division, went prominent 5th, kept on same pace from 2 out, no impression, 5th of 14, 19l behind Pagan Rules (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs.
Queen Excalibur 12-1 (10-9) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Kappelhoff (9-13) at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd, 9 ran.
Simplified 28-1 (9-13) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, 34l behind Little Jimbob (11-9) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Always behind, struggling from 6th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Ocarina (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Matinee Idol 15-2 (10-1) Held up in touch, ridden after 7th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 6, 44l behind Dundridge Native (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Participation 33-1 (11-4) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Pauls Plain (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl (5) gf in Oct, 16 ran.
Thunderclap 20-1 (10-6) Always behind, 12th of 17, 26l behind Breaking Shadow (11-5) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Floodlight Fantasy 25-1 (11-7) Led, headed after 2nd, chased leader until 5th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 16l behind Mujamead (10-6) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Night Reveller (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Keen, led, headed after 6th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Green Prospect (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Tammy 12-1 (10-2) In rear, outpaced 3 out, headway under pressure approaching next, no impression, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Bold Pioneer (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Hardybuck (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Soon tracking leaders and keen, pushed along 8th, soon weakened, tailed off 2 out, last of 12, well behind Anchors Away (10-11) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Batchworth Beau 16-1 (11-6) Never fluent, held up, mistake 6th, ridden and headway after 8th, weakening when hit 2 out, 6th of 7, 16l behind Abutilon (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
