chased leader, narrow lead after 5 out, blundered and headed 4 out, chased winner until next, soon no impression in 3rd under pressure, left moderate 2nd and stumbled last
in touch, left 3rd at 2nd, challenged 4 out, led soon after, about 2 lengths ahead and travelling well when left clear last
chased leaders until mistake and lost position 4th, hit 5th 6th and blundered 7th, ridden in modest 5th before 3 out, left moderate 4th last
behind, badly hampered 2nd, in rear after, struggling 7th, not recover, tailed off
chasing leaders when blundered and fell 2nd
towards rear, hit 3rd, driven in rear and struggling 7th, disputing poor 6th and no chance when fell 4 out
took keen hold, held up early, headway 5th, chased leading trio 7th, pushed along before 5 out, chased winner 3 out, about 2 lengths down and looked held when fell last
led, joined 5th, narrowly headed after 5 out, chased winner until 3out, mistake and lost 3rd 2 out, left modest 3rd again last
always in ridden and struggling after 7th, tailed off
ROC DE GUYE escapes a penalty for coasting to victory at Fakenham and, with the prospect of more to come, should be up to scoring again before the handicapper can take action. Our selection was making his handicap debut off this mark of 83 that day and did well to score considering he was keen in the early stages. Conditions here are likely to be more testing but we'd be hopeful that he'll cope and that may be enough. With Turn Up and Owner Occupier in the race there should be plenty of pace on which may help Roc De Guye to settle. Both of those horses fell when in the process of running big races last time and are threats, especially Owner Occupier who steps down in grade. Mr Bond fell behind that horse himself two starts ago but would've gone close to catching him and is another to consider along with Rimini and Russellstown Boy.
Owner Occupier 12-1 (10-8) Led, hit 2nd, headed and fell 9th, in a race won by Mister Stickler (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft, 9 ran.
Rimini (FR) 3-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, chased winner 8th until approaching 4 out, weakened before last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 7, 13l behind War Party (10-13) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Mr Bond (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, good headway on outside before 6th, went 3rd and hit 8th, chased winner 4 out, ridden and making no impression when not fluent 2 out, rallied flat, always held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Ponchatrain (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft.
Russellstown Boy (IRE) 10-3fav (10-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, disputing 4th and held when stumbled and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Digger Gets Lucky (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct, 8 ran.
Istron Bay 8-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, soon jumping left, blundered 4th, weakened 3 out, clambered over last, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Owner Occupier (11-12) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Art Man 20-1 (11-6) Behind, not fluent 3rd, stayed on from 3 out, almost got remote 3rd, 4th of 10, 24l behind Guns of Love (10-5) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Douryna 5-1 (10-1) Mid-division, headway and in touch 8th, 3rd and under pressure when mistake 3 out, never on terms, 3rd of 8, 20l behind Pistol Desbois (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Apr.
Turn Up (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Led until 2 out, soon driven to lead again narrowly, headed when slipped and fell last, in a race won by Bedarra Boy (11-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs, 9 ran.
Roc De Guye (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Keen in touch, in rear, tracked leaders 7th, led 3 out, clear next, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m cond hcp chs 0-85 (5) gs beating Fongoli (10-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
