chased winner to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden when hit 2 out, weakened between last 2
held up well in rear and off the pace, headway after 2 out, went moderate 2nd before last, not chance with unchallenged winner
held up mid-division, pushed along after 2 out, kept on steadily after, nearest finish
blundered 2nd, always behind, tailed off 5th
quickly away, made all, drew well clear after 2 out, unchallenged
held up mid-division, mistake 4th, headway approaching 2 out, 4th and staying on one pace when blundered last
chased leaders in 4th, hit 3rd, mistake and weakened 3 out, hit next
well in rear, short lived effort into mid-division 3 out, weakened soon after
held up well in rear and off the pace, hit 3 out and next, kept on steadily after
chased winner 3rd, mistake next, weakened before 2 out
last and struggling 4th, tailed off
mid-division, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, ridden when mistake 2 out, weakened between last 2
always towards rear
Hobbs Hill can land the opener at the expense of Willam Bonney and Matcho Poerji. The selection has had his problems and is still very lightly raced with only four runs under his belt. He won a bumper on only his second start for connections but was then not seen out for another twelve months. His latest outing saw him finishing second to Amaretto Rose at Ascot over hurldles. This is the first time he has been able to follow up on his seasonal debut so he has to be respected and if improving he can come up trumps today. William Bonney was in winning form at Cheltenham on his penultimate run before finishing a relatively disappointing third when a beaten favourite at Wetherby last time out. There has to be question marks surrounding his true form at the moment so is therefore best watched for the time being. Matcho Pierji has the services of Tony McCoy on board and his form at Towcester when second to Glinton was a sound effort as he improved big time from his debut. With more improvement still to come he is one to watch in the betting market. But for the winner we return to Hobbs Hill.
New Team (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, weakened and pulled up at the 5th in race won by Anglicisme (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec, 16 ran.
William Bonney (IRE) 6-4fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Torkinking (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Cathedral Rock (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) In touch, jumped slowly 3 out, stayed on steadily from next, 3rd of 16, 16l behind French Saulaie (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Golding Hop 100-1 (11-6) Held up when fell 5 out in race won by Or Jaune (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) sft, 10 ran.
Hobbs Hill 4-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, held when stumbled last, 2nd of 16, 13l behind Amaretto Rose (10-5) at Ascot 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Maktu 80-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway on outer approaching 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Aitch Doubleyou (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Matcho Pierji (FR) 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, chased winner and jumped right 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Glinton (10-13) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Near Germany (IRE) 80-1 (10-13) In rear, headway to lead after 3rd, soon clear, hit 3 out, soon headed, faded rapidly and pulled up 2 out in race won by Glinton (11-9) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) hvy, 14 ran.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up and behind, headway after 5th, no impresson after 3 out, 7th of 16, 19l behind French Saulaie (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Stormy Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up, reminders and struggling from 5th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Morgan Be (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan '06, 8 ran.
Strider 100-1 (11-5) Always behind, ridden struggling 4th, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Grecian Groom (11-5) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (4) hvy.
Super Sensation (GER) 66-1 (11-0) Not fluent, well in rear, mistake 4th, tailed off next, 6th of 8, well behind De Soto (11-8) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Eumene (IRE) (9-0) Held up, late headway, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Daramsar (9-0) at Deauville 1m 4f 3yo stk in Aug (Flat).
Mucho Loco (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 9th of 16, well behind Raslan (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Double Intruder (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Hit 1st, always towards rear, 7th of 18, more than 8l behind Fredensborg (11-0) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft.
