held up, ridden 14th, weakened next, behind and pulled up before 2 out
led to 3rd, lost place and behind from 10th
held up, went 2nd 15th, ridden approaching 2 out, one-paced approaching last
held up, took closer oprder 12th, ridden after 13th, went 3rd 3 out, weakened next
led 3rd to 5th, led again after 7th to 11th, led again 12th to 14th, weakened approaching 2 out
led 5th until after 7th, led again 11th until after 12th, led again 14th, pushed clear flat, comfortably
This looks a very entertaining race on paper, although most of them are having their chasing debuts. The ground will really test their stamina in such a long trip, so any horse appreciating mud will be in its element. Sterling Dot Com has failed to shine in his first two starts over fences; he fell when leading on his chasing debut on 8 November, then finished last of the finishers last time out at Kempton after blundering his way over most of the obstacles. These performances, added to his inconsistent hurdling results, don't give one much confidence in his abilities to win just yet. Given the small field, the TEAMtalk vote goes to The Villager. He proved to be strong jumper last season, finishing third on his hurdling bow at Cheltenham last October, then winning back to back races at Haydock before finishing 11 lengths fourth to Classified in the Grade 2 Pertemps Leamington Novices' Hurdle. He finished a distant 14th in the Grade 1 Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle, but made a successful seasonal reappearance at Chepstow last time out with a dominant run to win a 2m 4f handicap hurdle. He has had just over a month off since that race, and has schooled well over fences. If he can transfer his hurdling form to fences, he is going to take some beating. Potoffairies has put together some results over hurdles without winning since November 2000. He was third in a three-mile hurdles race at Navan earlier this month, where he made his reappearance, and is certainly an each-way bet. Denney's Well was third in a maiden hunter chase at Cartmel in June and hasn't run since; Henry Daly's novices have done well so far this season, but this one is best watched after such a long absence. Alan King is represented by both Bear On Board and Gola Supreme; the former hasn't run for nearly two years since making a promising start to hurdling, but will relish the heavy ground. Gola Supreme is very inexperienced; he won his hurdling debut a year ago, but was pulled up in his next race at Warwick and hasn't been seen since. Both these runners are best watched.
