made all, clear from 17th, unchallenged
chased winner, ridden 17th, 3rd and held when blundered 3 out
mid-division, ridden and headway to chase leader 17th, kept on one pace from 4 out
in touch, mistake 6th, blundered 16th, pulled up before next
mid-division, mistake 5th, ridden 17th, one pace
held up last, blundered 16th, ridden and went 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner
mid-division, mistake 9th, soon lost place
mid-division, ridden and weakened 13th, pulled up before 17th
prominent, ridden approaching 13th, behind from 17th
Paul Nicholls has farmed this race in recent years and can make it a fifth win in seven attempts here with Trust Fund taken to outpoint Wizard Of Edge, Even More and Fine By Me. Trust Fund has been off the track since being comfortably beaten by Mr Dow Jones at Chepstow last year. He stays at least three miles, acts with cut in the ground and his yard could hardly be in better form, so we will take him to score. Even More is 1lb worse off with Wizard Of Edge for beating that rival two-and-a-half lengths at Taunton on good to soft last time. Both runners see out this trip well and there will clearly be little to choose between them again. Lusake De Pembo won a fast ground c&d chase in October but jumped left at plenty of his obstacles at Taunton last time and needs to sort that our for this right handed track. Fine By Me is suited by trip and ground and has to defy a 7lb penalty for winning at Plumpton last time, so he can go close again, but the reappearing Trust Fund is taken to land this prize.
Trust Fund (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Led, headed 3rd, ridden to chase leaders 13th, mistake 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Mr Dow Jones (10-4) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct '06.
Even More (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Led to 12th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Thistlecraft (11-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Wizard of Edge 13-2 (11-7) Prominent, went 2nd 2 out, 3 lengths down when mistake last, not recover, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Even More (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Presence of Mind (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, weakened quickly 17th, pulled up after 4 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Finzi (9-12) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Jumped left throughout, led until 13th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, 44l behind Dun Drinan (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) frm in Nov.
Fine By Me (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 10th, led after 3 out, ridden out, won at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov beating Topless (11-5) by 1l, 7 ran.
Classic Clover 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division until dropped rear 7th, well behind 11th, stayed on approaching 2 out, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Dun Drinan (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) frm in Nov.
Midnight Gunner 9-1 (11-2) Close up, outpaced 9th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Olay Olay (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Nov, 7 ran.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, hampered 1st, ridden and weakened 13th, 3rd of 15, 19l behind Captain Aubrey (11-1) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
