chased leaders, weakened 6 out
towards rear, headway 6 out, outpaced after 4 out
chased leader, led 14th, headed 16th, led again 18th, headed 6 out, quickly weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up when blundered badly and unseated rider 12th
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced 17th, stayed on from 3 out
held up, headway 6 out, no impression from 5 out
alwaysd behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off from 5 out
held up in touch, weakened from 16th, tailed off
held up in touch, led 16th, headed 18th, weakened from 6 out
chased leaders, led after 2 out, clear approaching last
held up towards rear, pushed along after 9th, struggling 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
led, headed 14th, led again 6 out, headed approaching 3 out, no extra before last
held up towards rear, chased leaders approaching 18th, led approaching 3 out, headed after 2 out, no chance with winner
mid-division, weakened 6 out
held up towards rear, behind when fell heavily 10th
chased leader, ridden 6 out, soon weakened
held up, blundered 1st, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th, weakened after 4 out
A marathon and not a sprint and it is to JASS that we turn to with Montevideo and Malko De Beaumont have obvious claims on the book. The Reveley's have a long history of winning big handicaps at this course and Jass looks likely to add to that line. He won well at Ayr earlier in the month and gives the impression that this longer trip will be well within his compass. Montevideo is quirky but his stable have hit form. He kept on for plenty of pressure at Catterick and if those labours haven't taken too much out of him, he can go well today. Malko De Beaumont is a progressive individual and all credit must go to his handler's canny campaigning. On his Haydock form from December, he has to rate a solid player. Gidam Gidam is a regular in staying races and he seldom runs a bad race. Victory Gunner handles plenty of give in the ground though is probably more of a force around Market Rasen than here. Hello Bud is probably the pick of the Twiston-Davies camp while Cheltenham winner, Gaelic Gift looks very interesting off a light racing weight. The ultra-consistent Gypsy George appears best of the rest. Many plausible winners and Jass is our idea of the most likely.
Gypsy George 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader throughout, hit 10th, effort 2 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Jass (10-5) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs (2) sft.
Naunton Brook 12-1 (11-5) With leader early, soon ridden and lost place, behind when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Possol (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Hello Bud (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leader, led 12th to 3 out, every chance until weakened flat, 6th of 16, 6l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In touch, headway 9th, hit 10th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 26l behind Little Shilling (10-8) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, headway under pressure 2 out, 4th when mistake last, ridden and stayed on flat, 4th of 13, 12l behind Orki Des Aigles (10-6) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Lysander (GER) 16-1 (10-1) Mid-division, lost place 11th, outpaced when mistake 13th, 6th and no impression when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Big Fella Thanks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft, 13 ran.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up, hit 4th, stayed on from 2 out, stayed on strongly as winner tired flat, not quite get up, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Jim Bobs Girl (10-5) at Newbury 3m 2f amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Malko de Beaumont (FR) 3-1fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 8, 10l behind Jass (10-5) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs (2) sft.
Montevideo 20-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, hampered 6th, reminders 11th, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching last, ridden to lead final 100 yards, kept on, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs beating Rare Society (10-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Gaora Lane (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Led, hit, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 13, 11l behind Rambling Minster (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Jass 10-3 (10-5) In touch, mistake 11th, headway 4 out, ridden next, led before last, stayed on, won at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs (2) sft beating Gypsy George (11-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Tora Bora (GER) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leader, lost touch 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Double Dizzy (10-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs, 9 ran.
Tank Top 6-5fav (11-0) Led, mistake and headed 13th, rallied 15th, left in lead briefly 4 out, weakened last, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Carnival Town (11-0) at Chepstow 3m 2f beg chs (4) hvy.
Lyes Green 9-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Dream Garden (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Dr Hart (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Blundered 1st, soon driven along in rear, jumped left 4 out, made some late headway, never in contention, 6th of 15, 29l behind The Sawyer (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Gaelic Gift (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Prominent, chased leader 3rd to 6th, lost place 9th, well behind 14th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Rambling Minster (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs, 13 ran.
Bellaney Jewel (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Towards rear, hit 4, lost touch 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Orki Des Aigles (10-6) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Reminded and headed 13th, led again next, headed 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 50l behind Orki Des Aigles (10-6) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Lucky Nellerie (FR) 17-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, led 7th, headed approaching 9th, ridden 5 out, weakened 4 out, 7th of 14, 47l behind Coe (11-9) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
