prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, not fluent at 1st, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off 2 out
held up towards rear, taking closer order when fell 5th
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden and challenged after 3 out, lost touch 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, headway approaching 5th, mistake 3 out, challenged on 5th approaching 2 out, soon ridden, switched right approaching left and not pace with winner
chased leader, headway 5th, led on bit approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, drifted left approaching last, ran on well flat readily
held up in touch, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out, poor 5th when fell last
Abragante can give Pipe and McCoy a quick double, with only In Media Res likely to pose a threat, with the rest looking nothing out of the ordinary. Abragante was trained by Bob Woodhouse when scoring a 20-1 debut success at Wetherby in March, and has since changed hands. He is related to plenty of winners, and is sure to have been well schooled over hurdles as he bids to make his mark. The form of his win at the Yorkshire track has not been too well advertised, but the horse that finished third, Campesino, did subsequently occupy the same position behind the useful Rasharrow, to lend some credence to the figures. Those to have raced previously, including the Irish raider Ard Na Re, appear distinctly moderate, and so it should be left to newcomer In Media Res to give the favourite most to do. Successful in a soft-ground claimer in France last October, he is another that will have been put through his paces well, but the lack of an outing since October should count against him here. In what looks a two-horse race on paper, Abragante is the one to be on.
Ard Na Re (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Always behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Found Gold (11-12) at Sligo 2m 4f mdn hdl gs in Aug.
Heisse 12-1 (11-0) Jumped big 1st, mid-division, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 41l behind Buena Vista (10-10) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf.
Ly's West 33-1 (11-0) Hung left throughout, behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Gironde (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf, 7 ran.
Sculptor 8-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and challenged last, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Goldbrook (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (E) gf in May '03.
Skibereen (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Towards rear when fell at the 3rd in race won by Mr Mischief (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (E) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Abragante (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on to lead 1f out, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m nhf (H) gs in Mar beating Autograph (10-4) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
In Media Res (FR) (9-1) Prominent, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Deauville 1m 7f clm sft in Oct beating Siloma by 1l, 14 ran (Flat).
Berry Racer (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 9l behind Fayr Firenze (9-12) at Lingfield 7f mdn clm (7) pol in Mar (Flat).
