tracked leaders, chased clear leaders from 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 10th, chased winner from 5 out, every chance 3 out, kept on after last
towards rear, weakened after 8th, tailed off when pulled up after 11th
led, headed 2nd, led again 8th, headed briefly 11th, ridden 4 out, jumped left 3 out, all out
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 12th, very tired and jumped right 2 out, scrambled over last
led 2nd, headed lost place after 5th, fell 7th
close up when fell 9th
held up rear, headway to lead after 5th, headed 8th, led briefly 11th, headed when mistake and weakened 5 out
Bally Bolshoi gets the call here ahead of Thievery and Ask The Umpire. Toms Gone Grey is on a winning mark from March 2005 but has had only two runs since. Bally Bolshoi's mark for her second run in a handicap looks fair, and her defeat in the first one came in a valuable race. Hiers de Brouage is on a winning mark but is not the force of younger days, while Thievery attracted plenty of money at Hereford last time before disappointing but he clearly has some ability. Silent Gunner is another that appears to have had his injury problems, while Angello has been disappointing since arriving from France, where he showed some promise. Finally, Ask The Umpire achieved a much better rating over hurdles and showed enough over fences last time to suggest that he can be competitive for some money. The vote, though, goes to Bally Bolshoi.
Toms Gone Grey (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Prominent, hit 8th and lost place, weakened approaching 10th, well behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Supreme Tadgh (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Oct, 10 ran.
Master d'Or (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 6th, every chance when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 16l behind Roofing Spirit (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Bally Bolshoi (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Behind, ridden and struggling 6th, no chance when hit next, 10th of 18, 26l behind Harringay (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Hiers de Brouage (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Led, headed 3rd, ridden and outpaced after 11th, stayed on, every chance 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 3l behind Joe Deane (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Thievery 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened 10th, very tired when mistake 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Safe To Blush (10-6) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (5) gf, 10 ran.
Silent Gunner 4-1jt-fav (10-8) Led to approaching 3rd, led again 8th to 12th, led briefly 13th, led 5 out, ridden last, headed flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Commanche Jim (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) sft in Mar '05.
Angello (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Behind, mistake 7th, driven and tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Opportunity Knocks (9-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, under pressure and lost place 9th, rallied to go 2nd 2 out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Carnt Spell (10-5) at Towcester 2m 3f chs 0-95 (5) sft.
