mid-division, unseated rider 3rd
always in the rear
made all, clear 2 out, ran on
in touch, ridden when mistake 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd line
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, badly hampered 3rd, lost place and tailed off when pulled up before 9th
in rear, hampered 3rd, some headway 9th
mid-division, steady headway 4 out, hampered 3 out, soon held and mistake last
mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden and weakened 7th, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, hampered 2nd, chased leaders from 4 out, weakening last and lost 2nd line
mid-division, jumped right 2nd, hampered 3rd, weakened 8th, mistake 2 out
in touch, outpaced 3 out, stayed on
tracking leaders when fell 3rd
tracking leaders, jumped left throughout, ridden and close up when fell 3 out
always in rear, hampered 3rd, mistake 8th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
COMPTON STAR gets the vote in the opener with Folie A Deux and Justabout also looking like strong contenders. The selection was a fair hurdler, rated consistently around 100, and has begun to show that a race of this quality will suit him. He was headed by a useful sort in his last outing when a clear second at Tauton last time and he's off more than a fair mark here and looks fairly well placed to score. Folie A Deux is an unexposed type who is open to more improvement after a solid performance in his second run over fences last time. He's off the same rating here from that performance, where he was second of six after failing to settle early, and with the expected progression looks one of the more likely in this field has he drops back in grade and trip. Colin Tizzard's Justabout is another open to much improvement and has the pedigree to go on to better things than this later on in his career. Would probably want a longer trip than this and despite finishing in second place in a race last time from which the form doesn't stand up he's been raised a few marks. His expected improvement should negate that he should be in the mix. Gotontheluckyone has winning form from his last effort but that was in a very uncompetitive race and the form from all his chase efforts so far is as weak as in comes. The handicapper should have his way with this one which is why he's opposed and Compton Star gets the pick.
Stealing Moments (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, effort after 9th, weakened next, 10th of 14, well behind Bally Conn (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Take It There 18-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pulled hard, headway 4th, weakened next, behind when blundered badly last, last of 9, well behind Painted Sky (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Pret A Thou (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Keen in touch, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 20l behind Scalini's (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Folie A Deux (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (11-3) Raced keenly, led 4th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Deep Quest (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov.
Justabout 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden when headed 3 out, plugged on, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Huguenot (11-12) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Strategic Plan (FR) 17-2 (11-10) Keen in rear, headway 8th, 5th and held when blundered and pulled up 2 out in race won by Huguenot (11-12) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Covey (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 28l behind Native City (11-7) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Compton Star 7-1 (11-9) Towards rear, headway and chased winner 4 out, pecked 3 out, jumped right 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Mount Cook (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Nov.
Charming Oscar (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 8th, chasing leaders when jumped right and bumped 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Huguenot (11-12) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Poliglotti (FR) 40-1 (11-1) Prominent, led 4th, headed 7th, not fluent next, hit 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 12, 27l behind High Jack (11-3) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Georgia Steel (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, led 9th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly, 5th of 9, 31l behind Ours (12-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Nov.
Gotontheluckyone (IRE) 11-1 (10-2) Jumped right, led until 4th, tracked leaders, led after 4 out, kept on well from last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Nov beating Queen Excalibur (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Jimmy Bedney (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, jumped left 2nd, ridden to chase leaders when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 26l behind Huguenot (11-12) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Bob's Temptation 16-1 (9-11) Held up well in rear, pecked 3rd, mistake 4 out, shaked up breifly, reminders after 3 out, still 8 lengths down 2 out, progress approaching last, ran on flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Thievery (11-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-10.
Five A Side 20-1 (11-5) Towards rear, hit 2nd, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 12th of 16, 25l behind Picot de Say (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Marado (IRE) 40-1 (10-3) Always in rear, mistake 1st, tailed off from 4th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Huguenot (11-12) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
