chased leaders, lost place 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 3 out, weakened next
in touch, lost place 4 out, soon no danger
held up, headway 3 out, kept on one pace from next
close up, led 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
close up, weakened approaching 2 out, behind when pulled up before last
led to 3rd, remained prominent until weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra approaching last
held up, headway 2 out, soon ridden and effort, every chance flat, just held
held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 2 out, all out
held up and behind, smooth headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and beaten
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
Andre Chenier gets the vote over Gunadoir, Charlotte Vale, Hollows Mill and Lucky Duck in a hard one to call. This is yet another tricky race on today's card, but hopefully Andre Chenier will appreciate the switch back to hurdles to prevail. Runner-up to the useful King Revo on his chase debut at Hexham last time, he has not had that much racing over the past six months, and may now be returning to form. There were excuses for him on his return to action at Catterick in December as he was hampered early on, a mishap that may have affected his confidence in view of his poor effort at Kelso next time. That run over fences was much better, and it would be no surprise to see him come good today. Gunadoir keeps finding one too good but does not look badly treated for his handicap bow, while Charlotte Vale needs to brush up her jumping to make a fist of things as a hurdler. Lucky Duck is a past course-and-distance winner, but like Hollows Mill is fully exposed, and in a race in which none can be trusted with the mortgage money, just the smallest of votes goes to Andre Chenier.
Joan's Girl (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 11l behind Clouding Over (9-7) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Andre Chenier (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 2 out, every chance last, readily held flat, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind King Revo (11-4) at Hexham 2m beg chs (4) sft.
Charlotte Vale 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Clouding Over (9-7) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Brave Vision 12-1 (10-3) Towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely to lead close home, won at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan beating Endless Power (10-3) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Lucky Duck 28-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, chased winner after 7th, outpaced 2 out, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Milan Deux Mille (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Native Heights (IRE) 100-1 (10-1) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Our Jasper (10-3) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Lofty Leader (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced 2 out, 5th of 8, 36l behind Red Man (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov '05.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, struggling 6th, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 19l behind Barton Sun (10-5) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Gunadoir (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Tracked winner, led 3 out, headed after next, soon ridden and one pace, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Surricate (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Kingsbury (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up behind, short-lived effort 3 out, soon weakened, last of 14, well behind Clock House (10-5) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Hollows Mill 6-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 5 out, outpaced from 2 out, 4th of 8, 20l behind Fearless Foursome (11-3) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Nicozetto (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Held up behind, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, 10th of 14, 40l behind Storymaker (10-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Norminster 13-2 (10-9) In touch, effort approaching 2 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 17, 20l behind Windygate (10-12) at Kelso 2m 2f amt hcp hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
