always behind, tailed off when mistake 13th
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon weakened
held up, blundered and unseated rider 8th
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
mid-division, weakened 14th, behind when pulled up before last
led 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace
in touch, jumped slowly, headway 15th, soon chasing leaders, led 2 out, ran on well
held up in touch, lost place approaching 9th
held up, headway 8th, soon tracking leaders, hit 10th, weakened 3 out
led until 2nd, remained prominent, weakening when mistake 11th
held up, headway 10th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 3 out
held up, never dangerous
held up, headway 8th, chased leaders 2 out, blundered last, stayed on to take 2nd, no chance with winner
Quite a competitive novice chase and we will give a tentative vote to Lord Olympia, Vesuve and Murphy's Quest are the likely dangers. Venetia Williams has her horses in red hot form and Lord Olympia showed enough on his seasonal debut to suggest he can land a race of this nature. He finished second to the Philip Hobbs trained Zabenz and with plenty of improvement expected he should go one better today. The ex-Freanch trained Vesuve has contested some very good hurdle and chase events in the past. He has possibly regressed but if he retains half of his old ability he will be a threat to all. Murphy's Quest looked in need of his recent outing behind Billyvodan and we could see a much improved performance this afternoon. The best of the rest could be Concert Pianist, but our idea of the winner is Lord Olympia.
Backpacker (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, made most to 4th, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 11, well behind Forto (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (E) gf in Apr '02.
Concert Pianist 16-1 (11-11) Chased leaders until weakened quickly 4 out, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Commercial Flyer (11-11) at Perth 3m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Apr, 11 ran.
Lin d'Estruval (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Behind from 4th, hit next, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Bob The Builder (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (E) gd, 8 ran.
Lord Olympia (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked winner throughout, mistake 10th, hit 16th, weakened 2 out, 2nd of 8, 29l behind Zabenz (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
Murphy's Quest 18-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 9th, weakened next, tailed off, 4th of 11, well behind Billyvoddan (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (C) gd in Nov.
Roman Court (IRE) 10-3fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, led 9th, headed approaching 11th, led again 13th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, 23l behind King of Gothland (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Nov.
Vesuve (FR) (10-12) In touch until bad mistake 2 out, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Kario De Sormain (9-13) at Auteuil 2m 4f hdl in Nov.
The Muratti 25-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Good Samaritan (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gs in Oct, 15 ran.
