held up, jumped slowly 5th and 6th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 8th
always behind, pulled up after 5th
led until 3rd, tracked leader, led 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out
held up, blundered 5 out, weakened before 3 out
led 3rd, blundered 4 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden and held
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
in touch, ridden to chase leading pair after 3 out, one pace from next
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 8th
This looks to be a good opportunity for Space Cowboy to announce his arrival on the chasing scene, with Pseudonym and Bermuda Pointe others shortlisted. The selection was 12 lengths adrift of the very useful Desert Quest at Fakenham last time and may well have got in lightly here with the handicapper off a mark of just 109. Trip and ground should suit and he is taken to continue his yard's good run. Pseudonym also has conditions in his favour and is 3lb higher than when landing a Doncaster beginners' chase last time so he is respected. Bermuda Pointe drops back in trip, which looks to be a positive after he ran out of gas over further last time. A sound surface suits and he can go well, though he should need to improve to beat the selection. Gentle John may well be the best of the remainder, but Space Cowboy gets the vote.
Pseudonym (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to lead last, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (3) gf beating Le Corvee (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Witness Run (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Always behind, blundered 5th, struggling 7th, tailed off, 6th of 10, 39l behind Dusky Warbler (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gd in May.
King Louis (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leader to 9th, lost place next, stayed on again from 2 out, 4th of 9, 13l behind The Hairy Lemon (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) In touch, jumped slow 4th, chased winner 4 out, outpaced before last, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Desert Quest (11-6) at Fakenham 2m nov chs (3) gs.
Gentle John (FR) 5-2fav (10-12) Held up, mistake 9th, some progress when ridden 3 out, one pace approaching last, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Brave Villa (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Josear 22-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 7, well behind Lead On (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) sft.
Sternenzelt (GER) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders to 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 10, well behind The Tother One (11-4) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Bermuda Pointe (IRE) 3-1fav (10-10) In touch, driven 7th, chased leader after 4 out, weakened between last 2, 3rd of 9, 11l behind The Hairy Lemon (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Orlyheart (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, weakened 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Herecomestanley (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct, 8 ran.
