prominent, effort 2 out, soon under pressure, one pace
tracked winner early, soon in touch, chased winner 2 out, kept on well
held up in touch, lost action and soon pulled up after 12th
made all, driven and quickened after 3 out, soon clear, stayed on well
held up in touch, tracked leaders 9th, ridden 5 out, soon no impression
held up in touch, not fluent 11th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on but never able to challenge
We might just have the six runners rocking up for this handicap chase but it looks competitive however after such a good performance after a long absence last time we take CAPTAIN AUBREY to return fresh and win again at the expense of fellow hat-trick seeker Ballygulleen with Helm looking a decent price on the forecast betting. The pick returned from a 251 day break to set up this hat-trick bid by scoring going away in soft ground a Towcester. He's up six pound for that which seems fair and given he has proved he goes well fresh we¿re not concerned over his subsequent absence especially over the trip he has only suffered defeat once in three starts Ballygullen is also on a hat-trick after landing a Novice Handicap Chase on his fencing bow last time. He should be able to show us more again here and he still looks fairly treated. Helm only found one too good last time and that one was Silmi, who advertised the form well with a god run in defeat in a better race at Newbury on Friday, so while the form stacks up a bit Helm might not have conditions to suit. Charlie Mann's Mr Big has to be added to the list after his great run in the Cross Country at Cheltenham¿s Open Meeting last time but it would appear that Captain Aubrey has most in his favour.
Nagam (FR) 3-1fav (11-5) Led to 1st, chased leaders, jumped slowly 14th, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 45l behind Any Currency (11-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Mr Big (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden 4 out, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 10l behind Garde Champetre (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gs.
Captain Aubrey (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up, detached and pecked 10th, headway next, tracked leader 2 out, ridden and led last, driven out, won at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov '08 beating Jonny's Kick (11-10) by 4l, 6 ran.
Enroblim Trop (IRE) 11-2 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway and well in touch 14th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, challenging for 2nd when blundered 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 11, 10l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Ballygulleen (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Always prominent, led approaching 3 out, clear before last, ran on, won at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct beating Absolute Shambles (10-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Helm (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Jumped right 1st, left chasing leader next, blundered badly 4th, mistake and lost 2nd next, remained handy, hampered by loose horse 9th, challenging when bumped 2 out, still every chance last, one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Silmi (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nov stks (4) gf in Jun.
