chased leaders, blundered 1st, led approaching 4 out, ridden and under pressure 2 out, headed flat, no extra
chased leaders, left 10 lengths down in third when fell 2 out
led, headed approaching 4 out, ridden and upsides when fell 2 out
held up in touch, mistake 1st, left poor third 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, weakened from 6th
chased leaders, went third approaching 4 out, ridden next, left second 2 out, stayed on to lead flat
Having run well in his two previous starts, The Duke's Speech again disappointed when last seen at Ludlow last month and Ferdy Murphy's gelding looks best left out of calculations in a race taken to go to DEGAS ART, who is preferred to Camden George. The last mentioned showed a respectable level of form without ever winning over hurdles and may do better now switched to the larger obstacles but he would need to improve on the form shown so far to trouble the selection. Crow Wood was just about the pick of these over hurdles and would take all the beating if able to translate hurdles form to the larger obstacles but John Quinn's gelding took a heavy fall at Sandown last month so he may be best watched on his first start since then. Lease Lend has run some decent races in defeat but is becoming expensive to follow, while it is hard to see Naval Attache beating any of his rivals in a race taken to go to Degas Art. Howard Johnson's gelding showed a decent level of form over hurdles and a chance is taken that he jumps well enough on his debut over fences to make a winning start to his chasing career.
Camden George (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (11-2) With leader, took keen hold, led after 3rd, headed 8th, hit 9th, led 10th, headed and hit 2 out, weakened flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Galant Nuit (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Crow Wood 25-1 (11-1) Close up, disputing 3rd when fell at the 8th in race won by Free World (10-7) at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Degas Art (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up and mistakes, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 8, 36l behind Pigeon Island (10-7) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov '07.
Lease Lend 15-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened 5 out, 7th of 11, 27l behind Pop (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft.
Naval Attache 250-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, no impression from 4 out, 5th of 12, 25l behind North Island (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Keen, held up, slightly hampered 6th, mistake 8th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, 36l behind Kia Kaha (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
