held up in rear, weakened from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
tracked leader, ridden and lost place after 5 out
held up mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened from 7th
held up mid-division, weakened after 5 out
mid-division, headway after 5 out, hit 3 out, led next, hit last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, one pace when hit 3 out
in touch, hit 3rd, weakening when blundered 2 out
led, headed after 4 out, one pace from 2 out
towards rear, not fluent 3rd, weakened 6th
towards rear, outpaced after 5 out, no impression from next
held up mid-division, hit 3rd, in 5th and staying on when fell 4 out
towards rear and not fluent, weakened 5th
mid-division, chased leaders after 5 out, weakened approaching 2 out
A wide open handicap chase to solve and TIDAL FURY is a tentative selection to win it for the Ferdy Murphy yard; dangers include Medicinal, Something Wells and Presenting Copper. A moderate fifth at this venue three weeks ago, Tidal Fury was not given an unduly hard race and while a slight concern is his clear preference for plenty 'give' in the ground, Tidal Fury can be expected to have benefited considerably for it. Medicinal has brought about reservations with regard to his resolution in the past during his time with Edward O'Grady in Ireland. He was sent off market leader on his return at Aintree but the testing ground conditions appeared to find him out. Something Wells was surprisingly beaten on his final start last season but did prove himself a progressive sort earlier in the season. That defeat and a fall in the Jewson tarnished what had been a good season. He will need to improve again off his current mark but is open to further progression. Presenting Copper's season ended prematurely last season. She took advantage of a far from straight-forward sort in Royals Darling on her final start. She has shown in the past that she goes very well fresh. Laoch Dubh continues to defy the handicapper but could be vulnerable in this competitive heat racing from the front. Tidal Fury is nominated to win it.
Acambo (GER) 10-1 (11-7) Led until 3 out, weakened quickly, eased when beaten, last of 6, well behind Straw Bear (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Locksmith 11-10fav (11-7) Made all, drew clear from 2 out, eased run-in, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in May '07 beating Bohemian Spirit (11-7) by 8l, 5 ran.
The Wicketkeeper (IRE) 17-2 (10-8) Mid-division, hit 6th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 13, 17l behind Bleu Superbe (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd.
King Daniel 9-1 (10-13) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 27l behind Tension Point (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Medicinal (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Held up mid-division, ridden 3 out, kept on to take 3rd after last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Tramantano (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Something Wells (FR) 4-11fav (11-12) Led until 5 out, soon ridden, switched right approaching 2 out, ran on strongly final 75 yards, just failed, 2nd of 4, shd behind Warpath (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
Tidal Fury (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Jumped left, held up, some late progress, never a danger, 5th of 13, 21l behind Bleu Superbe (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd.
Presenting Copper (IRE) 11-10 (10-11) Made most, jumped right, clear 2 out, won at Chepstow 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Feb beating Royals Darling (11-8) by 17l, 4 ran.
Laoch Dubh (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Pulled hard, led after 1st, challenged from 2 out, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating Urban Tiger (9-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
Edmo Yewkay (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) In touch, mistake 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 11, 41l behind Tramantano (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Tom's Toybox 7-1 (10-12) fell in race won by Tramantano (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
Notre Cyborg (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, held up in last, hampered 8th, headway approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 6, 24l behind Afsoun (11-1) at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gs.
Le Roi Rouge (FR) 10-3 (10-9) Held up, effort 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 8, 13l behind Snoopy Loopy (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Apr.
Miss Pross 14-1 (11-1) In touch until ridden and outpaced 3 out, 5th of 11, 13l behind Glingerbank (10-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct.
