held up, in touch, jumped left first, chased leaders 3 out, never able to challenge
led, mistake and headed 10th, soon weakened, behind when fell 2 out
jumped left throughout, always behind
mid-division, headway 8th, led 10th, headed before 2 out, soon rallied, no extra flat
mid-division, headway 11th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, ran on well
always behind
tracked leader, under pressure before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, lost place next
This Novice Handicap Chase looks to be between last time out winners Flashy Conquest and WINNING SHOW and with the latter proven over this trip we side with him with Ponchatrain also worth of an honourable mention. Up six pounds for his staying on success last time the pick is still treated in the fair category. He's handled testing conditions in the past so should be able to run to his best. Flashy Conquest on the other hand is up just three pounds for his comfortable enough success last time but we side elsewhere as Colin Tizzard's charge has never been this far and hung badly in the final stages of that last outing. Ponchatrain looks to have conditions against him but has improved in two starts this season and in this line-up is entitled to go well while Lord Appellare made a solid seasonal debut and could build on that. This is a really tight contest in which we just favour the proven stamina of Winning Show.
Colline de Fleurs 8-1 (10-7) Prominent, led after 3rd until 5th, chased leaders, hit 12th, jumped left next, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Double Dizzy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chase (4) hvy in Mar '08, 6 ran.
Ballygowan Star (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, losing touch when mistake 11th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Midnight Haze (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Low Delta (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, raced wide, ridden after 3 out, no response, pulled up before last, in a race won by Raise You Five (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft, 17 ran.
Lord Appellare (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 8th to 9th, led 10th until after 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 31l behind Cartier Opera (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Took keen hold early, tracked leading pair, bumped 9th, went 2nd soon after until weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, 36l behind Winning Show (10-8) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs.
Winning Show 10-1 (10-8) Held up well in rear, mistakes 3rd and next, last and still well off the pace 4 out, soon driven along, headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, stayed on well flat, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs beating Coast Of Malabar (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Flashy Conquest 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced bend approaching 3 out, headway approaching last, hung badly left and led flat, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft beating Bid Art (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mortar 6-1 (9-13) Led until blundered and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Portrait Royale (10-13) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) gs, 6 ran.
