held up, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened between last 2
held up, pushed along 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
with winner, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, headway approaching 2 out, soon outpaced
held up, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next
held up and keen, weakened after 4 out, blundered 2 out, soon pulled up
headway after 4 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, stayed on flat, held towards finish
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, blundered and headed last, weakened flat
led, headed 2 out, regained lead last, stayed on
held up and keen, pushed along and lost place approaching 3 out
Bivouac is interesting after a confidence boosting first run over hurdles however a penalty makes life tough and preference instead is for Irish point-to-point winner FORESTSIDE. Jimmy Lambe's gelding looks a strong stayer and with conditions likely to be testing, that forte may be enough to see him through. His dam is from a successful staying family and granted confidence in the market he should run well. Grandad Bill is an old favourite from the flat but the bare form of his hurdling debut needs improving on, whilst Carters Rest shaped with great promise last time out at Kelso. He has won a bumper here before which is a help and with the stable having a year to remember he is considered a big threat. Howard Johnson has his runners in good form (and he won this race two years ago) so Mole Control needs considering, however bigger threats are likely to be Premier Sagas and Tara Royal. The former was given an awful lot to do on his hurdling bow at Newcastle but shaped with promise, whilst the latter is a former point-to-point winner who should be sharper after a spin around Chepstow last month. Turbo Island was well-fancied by connections last time out but the dual-bumper winner was well-held and his hopes will lie with this drop in distance. He will improve for that run, however we are happy to stick with Forestside.
Bivouac (UAE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, smooth headway 4th, challenged on bit 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, eased towards finish easily, won at Kelso 2m hcp chs 0-105 (5) gs in Nov beating Treeko (10-5) by 13l, 13 ran.
Carters Rest 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, chased winner after last, one pace, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Bishops Heir (10-7) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Forestside (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Ww, some prog 5out, tr ldrs aftr 4out, lft disp ld 2out, went on bef last, row, won at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp gd in Jun beating Tivnacree (11-7) by 2l, 13 ran.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, kept on after 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 15, 19l behind The Knoxs (10-7) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Intersky Charm (USA) 11-1 (9-0) In touch, headway from over 2f out, squeezed through over 1f out to have every chance driven to lead inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct beating Nevada Desert (8-13) by nk, 12 ran (flat).
Mole Control (IRE) Great Palm gelding out of Silili.
Premier Sagas (FR) 11-10fav (10-12) Held up, headway after 4 out, went 4th 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 15, 19l behind The Knoxs (10-7) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Tara Royal 3-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2f out, 9th of 16, 27l behind Sherwani Wolf (11-4) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
Turbo Island 3-1fav (10-7) Tracked winner, jumped right throughout, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 14, well behind Going Wrong (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Wind Shuffle (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Led, ran green approaching 2nd, headed 5th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, last of 11, well behind Is It Me (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Aug '06.
