chased leaders and not fluent, mistake 4 out, soon ridden and beaten
chased leaders, not fluent, lost place halfway, tailed off
held up, lost place halfway, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4 out, challenged approaching 2 out, no extra close home
mid-division, ridden 4 out, well beaten when refused last
led, headed 4 out, soon driven and weakened
chased leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace after
in touch, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on well flat
held up, lost place halfway, tailed off
DEEP PURPLE was by some way the pick of these over hurdles, Evan Williams has wasted no time in putting the son of Halling over fences and the seven-year-old is taken to gain immediate success over the larger obstacles, getting the vote over Marsam and Lease Lend. Tim Easterby's gelding showed fair form over hurdles and raced promisingly over fences on his return to action at Carlisle last month so he has to be respected and has claims if the selection does not take to chasing. Tony Carroll's Le Corvee lost no caste in defeat behind Ingratitude at Towcester last month and he has to be considered along with John Quinn's Master Nimbus but a bigger threat is likely to come from Marsam. Mick Quinlan's gelding was a capable performer over hurdles and would have every chance if taking to fences but preference is for Deep Purple who may be too classy for his rivals.
Deep Purple 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, beaten when hit 2 out, 9th of 22, 21l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Hugs Destiny (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Prominent, led 4th to 6th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, 8th of 12, 31l behind Malko De Beaumont (11-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.
Iffy 10-1 (11-10) Not fluent 5th, always behind, 7th of 10, 16l behind King's Head (11-2) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept.
Island Key (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Chased leader when fell at the 2nd in race won by Kalahari King (11-2) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
Lease Lend 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, chased leaders after 5 out, outpaced from 3 out, 4th of 10, 12l behind Crocodiles Rock (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Oct.
Le Corvee (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, soon hard driven, headed last, kept on gamely, 2nd of 15, nk behind Ingratitude (11-3) at Towcester 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Marsam (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led, soon clear, headed 6th, weakened quickly approaching 3 out, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by The Rocking Dock (9-13) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May, 14 ran.
Master Nimbus 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, headway to chase winner 5th until faded flat, 4th of 9, 15l behind Astarador (11-3) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
Merchant Red (USA) 20-1 (11-2) Held up, headway to chase leaders after 5th, hit 4 out, weakened soon after, well beaten when blundered and unseated rider at the last in race won by I'msingingtheblues (11-2) at Kempton 2m beg chs (3) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Red Dawn (IRE) 9-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, blundered 1st, beaten 4 out, 4th of 8, 12l behind Ground Breaker (11-1) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Aug.
