not fluent in rear, never dangerous
held up, not fluent 8th, headway after 9th, 4 lengths 4th and weakening when fell 3 out
blundered 4th, in rear, behind from 10th, jumped right 13th, pulled up before 14th
led to 5th, remained prominent until weakened 14th
always prominent, led 5th, not fluent and rider lost whip 10th, headed and not quicken flat
prominent, joined leader 11th until 14th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 4 out, blundered 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, mistakes 11th and 12th, struggling after, behind when blundered 3 out, mistake 2 out, tailed off
prominent, lost place 11th, rallied 14th, every chance 4 out, edged left and weakened between last 2
mid-division, some headway from 4 out but never on terms
mid-division, headway 10th, went 2nd after 14th, led flat, stayed on
mid-division, reminders and headway after 9th, mistake 13th, weakened approaching 4 out
jumped right, mistake 1st, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
This handicap chase looks to quite a tight contest and Super Judge, Ar An Shron and Imtihan all hold claims with the vote given to the first mentioned. The selection won easily last time at Hereford and although his jumping is far from fluent he remains open to plenty of improvement and the suspicion is that there may be more to come from him. Ar On Shron does have ability and he ran a fair race when chasing home Chamacco over hurdles at Exeter last time. This is his chasing debut but he does not look the most straightforward and he does tend to carry his head high when he comes under pressure so he is one to have reservations about. Imtihan has shown some promise over fences but most of his best form over hurdles came on soft ground and with this in mind he is taken on here. Classic Rock is a course and distance winner and may prove best of the remainder, but Super Judge looks the most likely winner and gets the vote.
Imtihan (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway 9th, effort and every chance 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Bestofthebrownies (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf.
Super Judge (IRE) 5-2 (10-7) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th and 7th, ridden 4 out, clear approaching 3 out, pecked last, pushed out, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf beating Four Opinions (10-13) by 7l, 5 ran.
Ar An Shron 7-2 (11-5) In touch, led 6th, headed next, joined leader 3 out, chance last, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Chamacco (11-2) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Nov.
Tsar's Twist 5-2 (11-7) Led until 9th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 8, well behind Bite Un Fight (11-1) at Exeter 3m cnd hcp hdl (5) gf.
Classic Rock 7-1 (10-11) Prominent, led 10th to 11th, led 14th, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Beauchamp Prince (10-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
Ballyjohnboy Lord (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, hit 7th, ridden 9th, no impression, 4th of 6, 23l behind Glory Be (10-9) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gd in Mar.
Flying Forme (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Track leaders, led 5th, headed 4 out, weakened after 3 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Not For Diamonds (11-1) at Hereford 3m 2f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf, 11 ran.
Snipe 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, no progress from 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 14, 13l behind Presenting Alf (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (5) gf.
