chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
lost touch 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 6th
prominent until 3rd, soon well behind, pulled up before 6th
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened after 3 out
in touch, brief effort 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
always behind, tailed off from 4th
led until 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 3rd when blundered last
always prominent, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, driven out
held up in touch, ridden and headway after 3 out, chased winner from next, no further impression from last
pulled hard, soon tracking leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out
Tora Bora is taken to get back to winning ways at the expense of Grasp, Milan Deux Mlle, and Josear, with Mungo Jerry and Liberia others in with a shout. The first thing to point out is that Tora Bora has been basically disappointing since coming over from Germany with a fair reputation, and after being pulled up at Exeter three weeks ago, it was decided not to run him at Cheltenham. However, although he was put in his place by Shamayoun at Southwell earlier, that form looks pretty good now in the light of the latter's subsequent Festival success, and we are prepared to give Tora Bora one more chance. Grasp did take on Shamayoun in the aforementioned Cheltenham contest but was pulled up. He won readily here the time before though and cannot be left out of calculations on that form. Milan Deux Mille was no more than a fair third at Stratford, while Josear may need further. A middle-distance winner on the Flat for James Given, Mungo Jerry shaped quite well when second at Market Rasen on his timber bow, but the horse that beat him was a 40-1 shot so we should not get too carried away. Liberia is just biding his time before going chasing again and is best watched, so without being too confident, we prefer the claims of Tora Bora.
Dunsfold Duke 50-1 (11-1) Jumped poorly in rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Killaghy Castle (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar, 17 ran.
Belshazzar (USA) 100-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, lost place approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Blu Teen (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec, 19 ran.
Crystal Hollow 100-1 (11-1) Led until after 3rd, reminders after 5th, weakened 6th, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Maljimar (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Liberia (FR) 33-1 (11-4) In touch, weakening when hampered 3 out, 8th of 14, 38l behind Wellbeing (11-2) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gf in Mar.
Mungo Jerry (GER) 11-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Commanche Sioux (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Schindler's List 33-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway on inside 5f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 12, 19l behind Dark Corner (10-0) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Grasp 25-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Shamayoun (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Tora Bora (GER) 2-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, driven along and lost place 3rd, headway 5th, weakened quickly approaching 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Bak To Bill (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar, 11 ran.
Floragalore 25-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 18, 6l behind Saraba (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Held up tracking leaders, keen, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, weakening soon after when hit 2 out, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Opera de Coeur (11-8) at Stratford 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Mar.
Josear 20-1 (10-12) Always prominent, chased winner 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 16, 31l behind Bureaucrat (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
