not fluent in rear, mistakes 4th and 6th, behind 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
held up in touch, went 2nd 8th, not fluent 11th, led after 5 out, mistake 4 out, driven out
prominent, lost place when not fluent 3rd, not fluent and behind from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
led 3rd, headed after 5 out, ridden and every chance until hung left approaching 2 out, no impression flat, lost 2nd towards finish
led, mistake 2nd, headed next, chased leader until not fluent 8th, hit 11th, weakened approaching 5 out
held up in touch, close 3rd after 11th, not fluent 5 out, hanging left thereafter, stayed on flat to take 2nd towards finish
held up in rear, headway on outside 6th, weakened approaching 5 out, pulled up before 4 out
Nothing in red-hot form so a chance is taken on MAGOT DE GRUGY ahead of Chance Du Roy. The selection is a course and distance winner and although his last run at Uttoxeter was not great, he had previously held his form well since his win here in November. He holds Mr Prickle on that run and is expected to run well. The last-named was pulled up at Newcastle just four days ago where his jumping lacked accuracy and fluency; if quickly turned out he needs to bounce back. Pass Me A Dime is a course winner but it will be interesting to see how his jumping is after a crashing fall at Plumpton, whilst Snakebite has been pulled-up twice since returning from injury, albeit in better races than this one. Chance Du Roy didn't seem to relish fences at Newbury but might be happier in this easier race and he showed enough as a hurdler to suggest he can play a big hand. Prideus was left behind by Tazbar last time but is dropped in grade, whilst Magical Harry is yet another in the race to have fallen recently. He needs to show that he is the same horse who showed good form in the summer of 2007. This looks a good chance for Magot De Grugy to bounce back to winning form.
Prideus (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, blundered 11th, jumped left and weakened 4 out, last of 7, well behind Tazbar (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov stks (3) gs in Feb.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, reminder after 8th, blundered 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, 31l behind Chaninbar (11-9) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Snakebite (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Mistakes, ridden in rear when blundered 7th, mistake 10th, tailed off and soon pulled up, in a race won by Nicto De Beauchene (10-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Mr Prickle (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, blundered 7th, headway approaching 11th, weakened approaching and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Jimmy Bond (10-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 8 ran.
Pass Me A Dime 7-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, headway to join leaders 11th, led 13th, ridden and joined when fell 2 out, in a race won by Portrait Royale (9-9) at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo Am hcp 0-115 (4) hvy, 5 ran.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Held up, soon in touch, chased winner after 12th until before 3 out, soon beaten, lost 2 places after last, 5th of 10, 34l behind Buffalo Bob (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Magical Harry 17-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, fell 6th, in a race won by Sir Ian (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 12 ran.
