tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, 3rd when blundered badly 3 out, kept on approaching last
not always fluent, tracked leaders, left 2nd 3 out, led going well 2 out, soon clear
held up in rear, no chance when hampered 3 out, tired when jumped slowly last 2, virtually pulled up run-in
not fluent, tracked clear leader, left in lead 3 out, soon ridden, driven and headed 2 out, soon no chance of winner
tracked leaders, ridden 8th, pulled up before next
led, 8 lengths clear and going strongly when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
held up in rear, ridden after 11, mistake 13th, pulled up before next
Stavordale Lad looks the pick of a poor bunch, Just A Splash and Backpacker could be the main dangers. The Paul Nicholls trained eight-year-old has obviously had his training problems but the fact that this top yard is persevering suggests he can win races. His recent second behind Magic Of Sydney was a decent enough effort and with improvement likely he looks the one to be on. Just A Splash hit winning form last time, beating Pan There Man in a modest Plumpton race. He won with a fair bit in hand and there could be more to come. Backpacker showed plenty of promise on his return and is one to consider for each-way purposes. True Lover looks the pick of the remainder, but our idea of the winner is Stavordale Lad.
Backpacker (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 10l behind Lord Olympia (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Dec.
Concert Pianist 14-1 (11-0) Held up, behind when blundered and unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Lord Olympia (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Just A Splash (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 9th, led narrowly after 3 out, in command next, clear when hit last, eased near finish, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov beating Pan The Man (10-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Stavordale Lad (IRE) 11-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, blundered 14th, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on well after last, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Magic Of Sydney (10-6) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Dec.
True Lover (GER) 25-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 19, 15l behind Attorney General (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs in Dec.
Burnt Out (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Pecked 1st, chased leaders until 4th, soon tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Supreme Serenade (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov chs (E) gs in Dec.
Saddlers Cloth (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along 6th, soon struggling, 9th of 18, 44l behind Wee Robbie (11-0) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
All Bart Native (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Prominent until mistake 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on, 4th of 8, 10l behind Ask The Natives (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (E) gs in Nov '02.
